Thirukkural 290 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கள்வார்க்குத் தள்ளும் உயிர்நிலை கள்வார்க்குத்
தள்ளாது புத்தே ளுளகு.
Transliteration
Kalvaarkkuth Thallum Uyirnilai Kalvaarkkuth
Thallaadhu Puththe Lulaku
Modern English
“Even worldly security can slip away from a thief, while honest conduct does not close the door to a better life.”
Modern Interpretation
Even worldly security can slip away from a thief, while honest conduct does not close the door to a better life. A person who refuses fraud protects both present trust and future hope. For example, a worker trusted with money keeps that trust by refusing to take even a small amount.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Even worldly security can slip away from a thief, while honest conduct does not close the door to a better life.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Even the body rejects thieves; The honest men, heaven receives
G.U. Pope Translation
The fraudful forfeit life and being here below;Who fraud eschew the bliss of heavenly beings know
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Even their body will fail the fraudulent; but even the world of the gods will not fail those who are free from fraud
Tamil commentary
திருடுபவரை அவரது உயிரும் வெறுக்கும்; திருடாதவரையோ தேவர் உலகமும் வெறுக்காது.
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