Thirukkural 232 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உரைப்பார் உரைப்பவை எல்லாம் இரப்பார்க்கொன்று
ஈவார்மேல் நிற்கும் புகழ்.
Transliteration
Uraippaar Uraippavai Ellaam Irappaarkkondru
Eevaarmel Nirkum Pukazh
Modern English
“Whatever people end up praising someone for, in the end, usually comes down to how generously they treated those who had less.”
Modern Interpretation
Whatever people end up praising someone for, in the end, usually comes down to how generously they treated those who had less. Kind acts are what people actually remember. For example, when a community speaks fondly of someone years later, it's almost always because of what they gave, not what they owned.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Whatever people end up praising someone for, in the end, usually comes down to how generously they treated those who had less.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The glory of the alms-giver Is praised aloud as popular
G.U. Pope Translation
The speech of all that speak agrees to crownThe men that give to those that ask, with fair renown
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Whatsoever is spoken in the world will abide as praise upon that man who gives alms to the poor
Tamil commentary
சொல்வார் சொல்வன எல்லாம், இல்லை என்று வருபவர்க்குத் தருபவர்மேல் சொல்லப்படும் புகழே.
Chapter 24
More from Renown
புகழ்
They gather fame who freely give The greatest gain for all that live
Kural 232The glory of the alms-giver Is praised aloud as popular
Kural 233Nothing else lasts on earth for e'er Saving high fame of the giver!
Kural 234From hailing gods heavens will cease To hail the men of lasting praise
Kural 235Fame in fall and life in death Are rare but for the soulful worth
Kural 236Be born with fame if birth you want If not of birth you must not vaunt
Kural 237Why grieve at those who blame the shame Of those who cannot live in fame?
Kural 238To men on earth it is a shame Not to beget the child of fame
Kural 239The land will shrink in yield if men O'erburden it without renown
Kural 240They live who live without blemish The blameful ones do not flurish