Thirukkural 235 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நத்தம்போல் கேடும் உளதாகும் சாக்காடும்
வித்தகர்க் கல்லால் அரிது.
Transliteration
Naththampol Ketum Uladhaakum Saakkaatum
Viththakark Kallaal Aridhu
Modern English
“Only truly exceptional people can turn hardship into something that grows their good name, and turn even their own passing into something that cements it further.”
Modern Interpretation
Only truly exceptional people can turn hardship into something that grows their good name, and turn even their own passing into something that cements it further. Their character shines brightest under pressure. For example, someone who keeps helping others despite serious illness, right up until the end, is remembered long beyond their lifetime.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Only truly exceptional people can turn hardship into something that grows their good name, and turn even their own passing into something that cements it further.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Fame in fall and life in death Are rare but for the soulful worth
G.U. Pope Translation
Loss that is gain, and death of life's true bliss fulfilled,Are fruits which only wisdom rare can yield
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Prosperity to the body of fame, resulting in poverty to the body of flesh and the stability to the former arising from the death of the latter, are achievable only by the wise
Tamil commentary
பூத உடம்பின் வறுமையைப் புகழுடம்பின் செல்வமாக்குவதும், பூத உடம்பின் அழிவைப் புகழுடம்பின் அழியாத் தன்மை ஆக்குவதும், பிறர்க்கு ஈந்து, தாம் மெய் உணர்ந்து, அவா அறுத்த வித்தகர்க்கு ஆகுமே அன்றி மற்றவர்க்கு ஆவது கடினம்.
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