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
Modern English
“Even the land itself seems to give less when it's carrying someone who never built a name worth remembering.”
Modern Interpretation
Even the land itself seems to give less when it's carrying someone who never built a name worth remembering. A life without purpose leaves the world around it poorer too. For example, a community thrives around people known for their contributions, but barely notices when someone who added nothing passes through.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Even the land itself seems to give less when it's carrying someone who never built a name worth remembering.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The ground which supports a body without fame will diminish in its rich produce
Tamil commentary
புகழ் இல்லாத உடம்பைச் சுமந்த பூமி, தன் வளம் மிக்க விளைச்சலில் குறைவு படும்.
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