Thirukkural 204 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மறந்தும் பிறன்கேடு சூழற்க சூழின்
அறஞ்சூழம் சூழ்ந்தவன் கேடு.
Transliteration
Marandhum Piranketu Soozharka Soozhin
Aranjoozham Soozhndhavan Ketu
Modern English
“Never plot harm for someone else, not even as a careless, passing thought, because that harm has a way of circling back onto the person who planned it.”
Modern Interpretation
Never plot harm for someone else, not even as a careless, passing thought, because that harm has a way of circling back onto the person who planned it. Even unspoken intentions carry consequences. For example, someone who schemes to get a rival fired often ends up losing their own reputation instead.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Never plot harm for someone else, not even as a careless, passing thought, because that harm has a way of circling back onto the person who planned it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
His ruin virtue plots who plans The ruin of another man's
G.U. Pope Translation
Though good thy soul forget, plot not thy neighbour's fall,Thy plans shall 'virtue's Power' by ruin to thyself forestall
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Even though forgetfulness meditate not the ruin of another Virtue will meditate the ruin of him who thus meditates
Tamil commentary
மறந்தும் பிறர்க்குத் தீமை செய்ய எண்ணாதே; எண்ணினால் எண்ணியவனுக்கு அறக்கடவுளே தீமையைத் தர எண்ணும்.
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