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
Modern English
“Controlling our senses and desires requires great inner strength.”
Modern Interpretation
Controlling our senses and desires requires great inner strength. Even powerful people can make poor choices when they cannot control temptation. For example, a person with authority may be offered money or praise in exchange for doing something wrong. If they remain firm and refuse, they show that self-control is stronger than power or privilege.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Controlling our senses and desires requires great inner strength.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
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
Tamil commentary
அகன்ற வானத்து வாழ்பவரின் இறைவனாகிய இந்திரனே, புலன்வழிப் பெருகும் ஆசை ஐந்தையும் அறுத்தவனின்வலிமைக்குத் தகுந்த சான்று ஆவான்
Chapter 3
More from The Greatness of Ascetics
நீத்தார் பெருமை
No merit can be held so high As theirs who sense and self deny
Kural 22To con ascetic glory here Is to count the dead upon the sphere
Kural 23No lustre can with theirs compare Who know the right and virtue wear
Kural 24With hook of firmness to restrain The senses five, is heaven to gain
Kural 25Indra himself has cause to say How great the power ascetics' sway
Kural 26The small the paths of ease pursue The great achieve things rare to do
Kural 27They gain the world, who grasp and tell Of taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell
Kural 28Full-worded men by what they say, Their greatness to the world display
Kural 29Their wrath, who've climb'd the mount of good, Though transient, cannot be withstood
Kural 30With gentle mercy towards all, The sage fulfils the vitue's call