Thirukkural 239 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

வசையிலா வண்பயன் குன்றும் இசையிலா
யாக்கை பொறுத்த நிலம்.

Transliteration

Vasaiyilaa Vanpayan Kundrum Isaiyilaa
Yaakkai Poruththa Nilam

English Translation

“The land will shrink in yield if men O'erburden it without renown”

Plain-English meaning

The ground which supports a body without fame will diminish in its rich produce

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

The land will shrink in yield if men O'erburden it without renown

G.U. Pope Translation

The blameless fruits of fields' increase will dwindle down,If earth the burthen bear of men without renown

Plain-English Meaning

The ground which supports a body without fame will diminish in its rich produce

புகழ் இல்லாத உடம்பைச் சுமந்த பூமி, தன் வளம் மிக்க விளைச்சலில் குறைவு படும்.

Chapter 24

புகழ்

They gather fame who freely give The greatest gain for all that live

The glory of the alms-giver Is praised aloud as popular

Nothing else lasts on earth for e'er Saving high fame of the giver!

From hailing gods heavens will cease To hail the men of lasting praise

Fame in fall and life in death Are rare but for the soulful worth

Be born with fame if birth you want If not of birth you must not vaunt

Why grieve at those who blame the shame Of those who cannot live in fame?

To men on earth it is a shame Not to beget the child of fame

The land will shrink in yield if men O'erburden it without renown

They live who live without blemish The blameful ones do not flurish