Thirukkural 281 in English

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

Tamil original

எள்ளாமை வேண்டுவான் என்பான் எனைத்தொன்றும்
கள்ளாமை காக்கதன் நெஞ்சு.

Transliteration

Ellaamai Ventuvaan Enpaan Enaiththondrum
Kallaamai Kaakkadhan Nenju

English Translation

“Let him who would reproachless be From all frauds guard his conscience free”

Plain-English meaning

Let him, who desires not to be despised, keep his mind from (the desire of) defrauding another of the smallest thing

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Let him who would reproachless be From all frauds guard his conscience free

G.U. Pope Translation

Who seeks heaven's joys, from impious levity secure,Let him from every fraud preserve his spirit pure

Plain-English Meaning

Let him, who desires not to be despised, keep his mind from (the desire of) defrauding another of the smallest thing

அடுத்தவர் நம்மை இகழக்கூடாது என்று எண்ணுபவன், அடுத்தவர்க்குரிய எந்தப் பொருளையும் மனத்தால்கூடத் திருட நினைக்கக்கூடாது.

Chapter 29

கள்ளாமை

Let him who would reproachless be From all frauds guard his conscience free

\"We will by fraud win other's wealth\" Even this thought is sin and stealth

The gain by fraud may overflow But swift to ruin it shall go

The fruit that fraud and greed obtain Shall end in endless grief and pain

Love and Grace are not their worth Who watch to waylay dozer's wealth

They cannot walk in measured bounds who crave and have covetous ends

Men of measured wisdom shun Black art of fraud and what it won

Virtue abides in righteous hearts Into minds of frauds deceit darts

They perish in their perfidy Who know nothing but pilfery

Even the body rejects thieves; The honest men, heaven receives