Thirukkural 240 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
வசையொழிய வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார் இசையொழிய
வாழ்வாரே வாழா தவர்.
Transliteration
Vasaiyozhiya Vaazhvaare Vaazhvaar Isaiyozhiya
Vaazhvaare Vaazhaa Thavar
Modern English
“Only people who live without shame are really living; those who live without any good name to their credit might as well not be alive at all.”
Modern Interpretation
Only people who live without shame are really living; those who live without any good name to their credit might as well not be alive at all. A good name is what makes a life count. For example, someone remembered only for broken promises has, in a real sense, left nothing of themselves behind.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Only people who live without shame are really living; those who live without any good name to their credit might as well not be alive at all.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
They live who live without blemish The blameful ones do not flurish
G.U. Pope Translation
Who live without reproach, them living men we deem;Who live without renown, live not, though living men they seem
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those live who live without disgrace Those who live without fame live not
Tamil commentary
தம்மீது பழி இன்றிப் புகழோடு வாழ்பவரே உயிரோடு வாழ்பவர்; புகழ் இன்றிப் பழியோடு வாழ்பவர் இருந்தும் இல்லாதவரே.
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