Thirukkural 27 in English

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

Tamil original

சுவைஒளி ஊறுஓசை நாற்றமென ஐந்தின்
வகைதெரிவான் கட்டே உலகு.

Transliteration

Suvaioli Ooruosai Naatramendru Aindhin
Vakaidherivaan Katte Ulaku

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The world is within the knowledge of him who knows the properties of taste, sight, touch, hearing and smell

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Taste, light, touch, sound, and smell: who knows the wayOf all the five,- the world submissive owns his sway

Plain-English Meaning

The world is within the knowledge of him who knows the properties of taste, sight, touch, hearing and smell

சுவை, ஒளி, ஊறு, ஓசை, நாற்றம் என்று கூறப்படும் ஐந்து புலன்களின் வழிப் பிறக்கும் ஆசைகளை அறுத்து எறிபவனின் வசப்பட்டதே இவ்வுலகம்.

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