Thirukkural 272 in English

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

Tamil original

வானுயர் தோற்றம் எவன்செய்யும் தன்னெஞ்சம்
தான்அறி குற்றப் படின்.

Transliteration

Vaanuyar Thotram Evanseyyum Thannenjam
Thaanari Kutrap Patin

English Translation

“Of what avail are sky-high shows When guild the conscience gnaws and knows”

Plain-English meaning

What avails an appearance (of sanctity) high as heaven, if his mind suffers (the indulgence) of conscious sin

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Of what avail are sky-high shows When guild the conscience gnaws and knows

G.U. Pope Translation

What gain, though virtue's semblance high as heaven his fame exalt,If heart dies down through sense of self-detected fault

Plain-English Meaning

What avails an appearance (of sanctity) high as heaven, if his mind suffers (the indulgence) of conscious sin

தன் மீது தன் நெஞ்சமே குற்றம் சொல்லுமானால் மேலான நிலையினால் வரும் பலன்தான் என்ன?

Chapter 28

கூடா ஒழுக்கம்

Elements five of feigned life Of a sly hypocrite within laugh

Of what avail are sky-high shows When guild the conscience gnaws and knows

Vaunting sainthood while week within Seems a grazer with tiger skin

Sinning in saintly show is like Fowlers in ambush birds to strike

Who false within but freedom feign Shall moan \"What have we done\" with pain

Vilest is he who seems a saint Cheating the world without restraint

Berry-red is his outward view, Black like its nose his inward hue

Filthy in mind some bathe in streams Hiding sins in showy extremes

Know men by acts and not by forms Strait arrow kills, bent lute but charms

No balding nor tangling the hair! Abstain from condemned acts with care