Thirukkural 261 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உற்றநோய் நோன்றல் உயிர்க்குறுகண் செய்யாமை
அற்றே தவத்திற் குரு.
Transliteration
Utranoi Nondral Uyirkkurukan Seyyaamai
Atre Thavaththir Kuru
Modern English
“The heart of disciplined living is bearing our own hardship without causing pain to another living being.”
Modern Interpretation
The heart of disciplined living is bearing our own hardship without causing pain to another living being. Endurance matters only when it is joined with harmlessness. For example, staying calm through a difficult training session without taking frustration out on a teammate is a small form of this discipline.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The heart of disciplined living is bearing our own hardship without causing pain to another living being.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Pains endure; pain not beings This is the type of true penance
G.U. Pope Translation
To bear due penitential pains, while no offenceHe causes others, is the type of 'penitence'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The nature of religious discipline consists, in the endurance (by the ascetic) of the sufferings which it brings on himself, and in abstaining from giving pain to others
Tamil commentary
பிறரால் தனக்குச் செய்யப்படும் துன்பங்களைப் பொறுத்துக் கொள்வது, துன்பம் செய்தவர்க்கும் துன்பம் செய்யாதிருப்பது என்னும் இவ்வளவுதான், தவம் என்பதன் இலக்கணம்.
Chapter 27
More from Penance
தவம்
Pains endure; pain not beings This is the type of true penance
Kural 262Penance is fit for penitents Not for him who in vain pretends
Kural 263Is it to true penitent's aid, That others austere path avoid?
Kural 264In penance lies the power to save The friends and foil the foe and knave
Kural 265What they wish as they wish is won Here hence by men penance is done
Kural 266Who do penance achieve their aim Others desire-rid themselves harm
Kural 267Pure and bright gets the gold in fire; and so the life by pain austere
Kural 268He worship wins from every soul Who Master is by soul control
Kural 269They can even defy death Who get by penance godly strenth
Kural 270Many are poor and few are rich For they care not for penance much