Thirukkural 276 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நெஞ்சின் துறவார் துறந்தார்போல் வஞ்சித்து
வாழ்வாரின் வன்கணார் இல்.
Transliteration
Nenjin Thuravaar Thurandhaarpol Vanjiththu
Vaazhvaarin Vankanaar Il
Modern English
“Few people are harder-hearted than those who keep their desires inside but pretend to have renounced them.”
Modern Interpretation
Few people are harder-hearted than those who keep their desires inside but pretend to have renounced them. Hidden selfishness can make deception especially cruel. For example, a manager who acts selfless while secretly taking every benefit for themselves abuses the trust of the team.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Few people are harder-hearted than those who keep their desires inside but pretend to have renounced them.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Vilest is he who seems a saint Cheating the world without restraint
G.U. Pope Translation
In mind renouncing nought, in speech renouncing every tie,Who guileful live,- no men are found than these of 'harder eye'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Amongst living men there are none so hard-hearted as those who without to saking (desire) in their heart, falsely take the appearance of those who have forsaken (it)
Tamil commentary
மனத்துள் எதையும் வெறுக்காமல், வெளியே வெறுத்தவர் போல் ஏமாற்றி வாழும் மனிதரைக் காட்டிலும் கொடியவர், இவ்வுலகத்தில் இல்லை.
Chapter 28
More from Imposture
கூடா ஒழுக்கம்
Elements five of feigned life Of a sly hypocrite within laugh
Kural 272Of what avail are sky-high shows When guild the conscience gnaws and knows
Kural 273Vaunting sainthood while week within Seems a grazer with tiger skin
Kural 274Sinning in saintly show is like Fowlers in ambush birds to strike
Kural 275Who false within but freedom feign Shall moan \"What have we done\" with pain
Kural 276Vilest is he who seems a saint Cheating the world without restraint
Kural 277Berry-red is his outward view, Black like its nose his inward hue
Kural 278Filthy in mind some bathe in streams Hiding sins in showy extremes
Kural 279Know men by acts and not by forms Strait arrow kills, bent lute but charms
Kural 280No balding nor tangling the hair! Abstain from condemned acts with care