Thirukkural 25 in English

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

Tamil original

ஐந்தவித்தான் ஆற்றல் அகல்விசும்பு ளார்கோமான்
இந்திரனே சாலுங் கரி.

Transliteration

Aindhaviththaan Aatral Akalvisumpu Laarkomaan
Indhirane Saalung Kari

English Translation

“Indra himself has cause to say How great the power ascetics' sway”

Plain-English meaning

Indra, the king of the inhabitants of the spacious heaven, is himself, a sufficient proof of the strength of him who has subdued his five senses

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Indra himself has cause to say How great the power ascetics' sway

G.U. Pope Translation

Their might who have destroyed 'the five', shall soothly tellIndra, the lord of those in heaven's wide realms that dwell

Plain-English Meaning

Indra, the king of the inhabitants of the spacious heaven, is himself, a sufficient proof of the strength of him who has subdued his five senses

அகன்ற வானத்து வாழ்பவரின் இறைவனாகிய இந்திரனே, புலன்வழிப் பெருகும் ஆசை ஐந்தையும் அறுத்தவனின்வலிமைக்குத் தகுந்த சான்று ஆவான்

Chapter 3

நீத்தார் பெருமை

No merit can be held so high As theirs who sense and self deny

To con ascetic glory here Is to count the dead upon the sphere

No lustre can with theirs compare Who know the right and virtue wear

With hook of firmness to restrain The senses five, is heaven to gain

Indra himself has cause to say How great the power ascetics' sway

The small the paths of ease pursue The great achieve things rare to do

They gain the world, who grasp and tell Of taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell

Full-worded men by what they say, Their greatness to the world display

Their wrath, who've climb'd the mount of good, Though transient, cannot be withstood

With gentle mercy towards all, The sage fulfils the vitue's call