Thirukkural 208 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தீயவை செய்தார் கெடுதல் நிழல்தன்னை
வீயாது அஇஉறைந் தற்று.
Transliteration
Theeyavai Seydhaar Ketudhal Nizhaldhannai
Veeyaadhu Atiurain Thatru
Modern English
“Ruin sticks to people who do wrong the exact way a shadow sticks to their feet, it never really lets go.”
Modern Interpretation
Ruin sticks to people who do wrong the exact way a shadow sticks to their feet, it never really lets go. There's no outrunning what you've set in motion. For example, success built through fraud can't escape the eventual collapse it causes, no matter how far the person runs.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Ruin sticks to people who do wrong the exact way a shadow sticks to their feet, it never really lets go.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Ruin follows who evil do As shadow follows as they go
G.U. Pope Translation
Man's shadow dogs his steps where'er he wends;Destruction thus on sinful deeds attends
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Destruction will dwell at the heels of those who commit evil even as their shadow that leaves them not
Tamil commentary
பிறர்க்குத் தீமை செய்தவர் அழிவது, அவரை அவரது நிழல் விடாது கால்களின் கீழே தங்கியிருப்பது போலாம்.
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