Thirukkural 286 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அளவின்கண் நின்றொழுகல் ஆற்றார் களவின்கண்
கன்றிய காத லவர்.
Transliteration
Alavinkan Nindrozhukal Aatraar Kalavinkan
Kandriya Kaadha Lavar
Modern English
“People who strongly desire to defraud others cannot live by fair limits and honest restraint.”
Modern Interpretation
People who strongly desire to defraud others cannot live by fair limits and honest restraint. Greed keeps pushing them beyond what is enough. For example, a seller who keeps hiding defects to make extra money cannot honestly say they respect fair dealing.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who strongly desire to defraud others cannot live by fair limits and honest restraint.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
They cannot walk in measured bounds who crave and have covetous ends
G.U. Pope Translation
They cannot walk restrained in wisdom's measured bound,In whom inveterate lust of fraudful gain is found
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
They cannot walk steadfastly, according to rule, who eagerly desire to defraud others
Tamil commentary
உயிர்களை நேசிக்கும் ஆசை இல்லாதவரே அடுத்தவர் பொருளைத் திருடும் பேராசை உடையவர் ஆவர்.
Chapter 29
More from The Absence of Fraud
கள்ளாமை
Let him who would reproachless be From all frauds guard his conscience free
Kural 282\"We will by fraud win other's wealth\" Even this thought is sin and stealth
Kural 283The gain by fraud may overflow But swift to ruin it shall go
Kural 284The fruit that fraud and greed obtain Shall end in endless grief and pain
Kural 285Love and Grace are not their worth Who watch to waylay dozer's wealth
Kural 286They cannot walk in measured bounds who crave and have covetous ends
Kural 287Men of measured wisdom shun Black art of fraud and what it won
Kural 288Virtue abides in righteous hearts Into minds of frauds deceit darts
Kural 289They perish in their perfidy Who know nothing but pilfery
Kural 290Even the body rejects thieves; The honest men, heaven receives