Thirukkural 249 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தெருளாதான் மெய்ப்பொருள் கண்டற்றால் தேரின்
அருளாதான் செய்யும் அறம்.
Transliteration
Therulaadhaan Meypporul Kantatraal Therin
Arulaadhaan Seyyum Aram
Modern English
“Look closely, and any 'good deed' done by someone without real kindness is as hollow as someone claiming to understand a truth they never actually grasped.”
Modern Interpretation
Look closely, and any 'good deed' done by someone without real kindness is as hollow as someone claiming to understand a truth they never actually grasped. It looks like virtue from the outside but isn't. For example, donating money publicly while treating people cruelly in private isn't the virtue it appears to be.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Look closely, and any 'good deed' done by someone without real kindness is as hollow as someone claiming to understand a truth they never actually grasped.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Like Truth twisted by confused mind Wisdom is vain in hearts unkind
G.U. Pope Translation
When souls unwise true wisdom's mystic vision see,The 'graceless' man may work true works of charity
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If you consider, the virtue of him who is without kindness is like the perception of the true being by him who is without wisdom
Tamil commentary
மனத்துள் அருள் இல்லாதவன் செய்யும் அறத்தை ஆராய்ந்து பார்த்தால், ஞானம் இல்லாதவன் மெய்ப்பொருளை உணர்ந்தது போல ஆகும்.
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