Thirukkural 278 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார் நீராடி
மறைந்தொழுகு மாந்தர் பலர்.
Transliteration
Manaththadhu Maasaaka Maantaar Neeraati
Maraindhozhuku Maandhar Palar
Modern English
“Many people hide a polluted mind behind clean clothes, rituals, or an impressive reputation.”
Modern Interpretation
Many people hide a polluted mind behind clean clothes, rituals, or an impressive reputation. Looking pure does not make a person pure. For example, someone may speak about virtue at a ceremony while bullying others afterward.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Many people hide a polluted mind behind clean clothes, rituals, or an impressive reputation.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Filthy in mind some bathe in streams Hiding sins in showy extremes
G.U. Pope Translation
Many wash in hollowed waters, living lives of hidden shame;Foul in heart, yet high upraised of men in virtuous fame
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
There are many men of masked conduct, who perform their ablutions, and (make a show) of
Tamil commentary
மனம் முழுக்க இருட்டு; வெளியே தூய நீரில் குளித்து வருபவர்போல் போலி வெளிச்சம் - இப்படி வாழும் மனிதர் பலர் இருக்கின்றனர்.
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