Thirukkural 243 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அருள்சேர்ந்த நெஞ்சினார்க் கில்லை இருள்சேர்ந்த
இன்னா உலகம் புகல்.
Transliteration
Arulserndha Nenjinaark Killai Irulserndha
Innaa Ulakam Pukal
Modern English
“People whose hearts genuinely hold kindness never end up trapped in a bitter, dark existence.”
Modern Interpretation
People whose hearts genuinely hold kindness never end up trapped in a bitter, dark existence. Kindness keeps a person's world from turning cold. For example, someone known for treating others gently tends to build a life surrounded by people who show up for them too.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People whose hearts genuinely hold kindness never end up trapped in a bitter, dark existence.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The hearts of mercy shall not go Into dark worlds of gruesome woe
G.U. Pope Translation
They in whose breast a 'gracious kindliness' resides,See not the gruesome world, where darkness drear abides
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
They will never enter the world of darkness and wretchedness whose minds are the abode of kindness
Tamil commentary
அருள் நிறைந்த நெஞ்சத்தவர்க்கு, இருட்டான, துன்ப உலகமாகிய நரகம் புகும் நெருக்கடி இல்லை.
Chapter 25
More from Compassion
அருளுடைமை
The wealth of wealth is wealth of grace Earthly wealth e'en the basest has
Kural 242Seek by sound ways good compassion; All faiths mark that for-salvation
Kural 243The hearts of mercy shall not go Into dark worlds of gruesome woe
Kural 244His soul is free from dread of sins Whose mercy serveth all beings
Kural 245The wide wind-fed world witness bears: Men of mercy meet not sorrows
Kural 246Who grace forsake and graceless act The former loss and woes forget
Kural 247This world is not for weathless ones That world is not for graceless swines
Kural 248The wealthless may prosper one day; The graceless never bloom agay
Kural 249Like Truth twisted by confused mind Wisdom is vain in hearts unkind
Kural 250Think how you feel before the strong When to the feeble you do wrong