Thirukkural 279 in English

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

Tamil original

கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல்.

Transliteration

Kanaikotidhu Yaazhkotu Sevvidhuaang Kanna
Vinaipatu Paalaal Kolal

Modern English

“An arrow looks straight but is used to harm, while a curved lute creates beautiful music; judge people by what they do, not how they look.”

Modern Interpretation

An arrow looks straight but is used to harm, while a curved lute creates beautiful music; judge people by what they do, not how they look. Shape and style can mislead us. For example, a quiet applicant who works honestly may be more trustworthy than a polished speaker who breaks promises.

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

Compare translations

Modern Plain English

An arrow looks straight but is used to harm, while a curved lute creates beautiful music; judge people by what they do, not how they look.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Cruel is the arrow straight, the crooked lute is sweet,Judge by their deeds the many forms of men you meet

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

As, in its use, the arrow is crooked, and the curved lute is straight, so by their deeds, (and not by their appearance) let (the uprightness or crookedness of) men be estimated

Tamil commentary

வடிவால் நேரானது என்றாலும் செயலால் அம்பு கொடியது. கழுத்தால் வளைந்தது ஆயினும் செயலால் யாழ் இனிது. அதனால் தோற்றத்தால் அன்றிச் செயலால் மனிதரை எடை போடுக.

Chapter 28

More from Imposture

கூடா ஒழுக்கம்

Read all 10 Kurals →

Kural 271

Elements five of feigned life Of a sly hypocrite within laugh

Kural 272

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

Kural 273

Vaunting sainthood while week within Seems a grazer with tiger skin

Kural 274

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

Kural 275

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

Kural 276

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

Kural 277

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

Kural 278

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

Kural 279

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

Kural 280

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