Thirukkural 170 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

அழுக்கற்று அகன்றாரும் இல்லை அஃதுஇல்லார்
பெருக்கத்தில் தீர்ந்தாரும் இல்.

Transliteration

Azhukkatru Akandraarum Illai Aqdhuillaar
Perukkaththil Theerndhaarum Il

English Translation

“The envious prosper never The envyless prosper ever”

Plain-English meaning

Never have the envious become great; never have those who are free from envy been without greatness

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

The envious prosper never The envyless prosper ever

G.U. Pope Translation

No envious men to large and full felicity attain;No men from envy free have failed a sure increase to gain

Plain-English Meaning

Never have the envious become great; never have those who are free from envy been without greatness

பொறாமை கொண்டு உயர்ந்தவரும் இல்லை. அது இல்லாதபோது தாழ்ந்தவரும் இல்லை

Chapter 17

அழுக்காறாமை

Deem your heart as virtuous When your nature is not jealous

No excellence excels the one That by nature envies none

Who envies others' good fortune Can't prosper in virtue of his own

The wise through envy don't others wrong Knowing that woes from evils throng

Man shall be wrecked by envy's whim Even if enemies spare him

Who envies gifts shall suffer ruin Without food and clothes with his kin

Fortune deserts the envious Leaving misfortune omnious

Caitiff envy despoils wealth And drags one into evil path

Why is envy rich, goodmen poor People with surprise think over

The envious prosper never The envyless prosper ever