Thirukkural 289 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அளவல்ல செய்தாங்கே வீவர் களவல்ல
மற்றைய தேற்றா தவர்.
Transliteration
Alavalla Seydhaange Veevar Kalavalla
Matraiya Thetraa Thavar
Modern English
“People who know no way to succeed except through theft can ruin themselves in the very act of breaking the rules.”
Modern Interpretation
People who know no way to succeed except through theft can ruin themselves in the very act of breaking the rules. A dishonest habit eventually becomes its own downfall. For example, an employee who falsifies records may lose a career built over many years.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who know no way to succeed except through theft can ruin themselves in the very act of breaking the rules.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
They perish in their perfidy Who know nothing but pilfery
G.U. Pope Translation
Who have no lore save that which fraudful arts supply,Acts of unmeasured vice committing straightway die
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those, who are acquainted with nothing but fraud, will perish in the very commission of transgression
Tamil commentary
அடுத்தவர் பொருளைத் திருடுவதைத் தவிர வேறொன்றும் தெரியாதவர் தகுதி அற்ற அந்தச் செயல்களாலேயே அழிந்து போவார்.
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