Thirukkural 266 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தவஞ்செய்வார் தங்கருமஞ் செய்வார்மற் றல்லார்
அவஞ்செய்வார் ஆசையுட் பட்டு.
Transliteration
Thavanj Cheyvaar Thangarumanj Cheyvaarmar
Rallaar Avanjeyvaar Aasaiyut Pattu
Modern English
“Those who practice self-control are doing the work that truly belongs to them; people ruled by desire waste their effort.”
Modern Interpretation
Those who practice self-control are doing the work that truly belongs to them; people ruled by desire waste their effort. Discipline directs energy, while unchecked craving scatters it. For example, finishing an important assignment instead of endlessly chasing distractions is a practical form of this lesson.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Those who practice self-control are doing the work that truly belongs to them; people ruled by desire waste their effort.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who do penance achieve their aim Others desire-rid themselves harm
G.U. Pope Translation
Who works of 'penance' do, their end attain,Others in passion's net enshared, toil but in vain
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those discharge their duty who perform austerities; all others accomplish their own destruction, through the entanglement of the desire (of riches and sensual pleasure)
Tamil commentary
தவத்தைச் செய்பவரே தமக்குரிய செயலைச் செய்தவர்; மற்றவர்களோ ஆசை வலைப்பட்டு வீணானவற்றைச் செய்தவர் ஆவர்.
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