Thirukkural 202 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தீயவை தீய பயத்தலால் தீயவை
தீயினும் அஞ்சப் படும்.
Transliteration
Theeyavai Theeya Payaththalaal Theeyavai
Theeyinum Anjap Patum
Modern English
“Wrongdoing always circles back to cause more harm, so it deserves to be feared even more than fire does.”
Modern Interpretation
Wrongdoing always circles back to cause more harm, so it deserves to be feared even more than fire does. Fire burns and stops; a bad deed keeps producing damage long after. For example, spreading a rumor might feel harmless in the moment, but the hurt it causes can spread further and last longer than any fire.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Wrongdoing always circles back to cause more harm, so it deserves to be feared even more than fire does.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Since evil begets evil dire Fear ye evil more than fire
G.U. Pope Translation
Since evils new from evils ever grow,Evil than fire works out more dreaded woe
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Because evil produces evil, therefore should evil be feared more than fire
Tamil commentary
நமக்கு நன்மை என்று பிறருக்குச் செய்யும் தீமைகள், நமக்குத் தீமையே தருவதால், தீமைகளைத் தீயினும் கொடியனவாக எண்ணிச் செய்ய அஞ்ச வேண்டும்.
Chapter 21
More from Dread of Evil Deeds
தீவினையச்சம்
Sinners fear not the pride of sin The worthy dread the ill within
Kural 202Since evil begets evil dire Fear ye evil more than fire
Kural 203The wisest of the wise are those Who injure not even their foes
Kural 204His ruin virtue plots who plans The ruin of another man's
Kural 205Who makes poverty plea for ill Shall reduce himself poorer still
Kural 206From wounding others let him refrain Who would from harm himself remain
Kural 207Men may escape other foes and live But sin its deadly blow will give
Kural 208Ruin follows who evil do As shadow follows as they go
Kural 209Let none who loves himself at all Think of evil however small
Kural 210He is secure, know ye, from ills Who slips not right path to do evils