Thirukkural 301 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
செல்லிடத்துக் காப்பான் சினங்காப்பான் அல்லிடத்துக்
காக்கின்என் காவாக்கால் என்?
Transliteration
Sellitaththuk Kaappaan Sinangaappaan Allitaththuk
Kaakkinen Kaavaakkaal En?
Modern English
“The real test of self-control is staying calm when you have the power to hurt someone back.”
Modern Interpretation
The real test of self-control is staying calm when you have the power to hurt someone back. Anger that cannot do much damage is easy to hide; anger that can cause harm must be mastered. For example, after a rude message in a group chat, choosing a calm reply shows true strength.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The real test of self-control is staying calm when you have the power to hurt someone back.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Anger against the weak is wrong It is futile against the strong
G.U. Pope Translation
Where thou hast power thy angry will to work, thy wrath restrain;Where power is none, what matter if thou check or give it rein
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
He restrains his anger who restrains it when it can injure; when it cannot injure, what does it matter whether he restrain it, or not ?
Tamil commentary
எங்கே தன் கோபம் பலிக்குமோ அங்கே கோபம் கொள்ளாதவனே உண்மையாகவே கோபம் கொள்ளாதவன்; பலிக்காத இடத்தில் கோபத்தைத் தடுத்து என்ன? தடுக்காமல் விட்டுத்தான் என்ன?
Chapter 31
More from Restraining Anger
வெகுளாமை
Anger against the weak is wrong It is futile against the strong
Kural 302Vain is wrath against men of force Against the meek it is still worse
Kural 303Off with wrath with any one It is the source of sin and pain
Kural 304Is there a foe like harmful ire Which kills the smile and joyful cheer?
Kural 305Thyself to save, from wrath away! If not thyself the wrath will slay
Kural 306Friend-killer is the fatal rage It burns the helpful kinship-barge
Kural 307The wrath-lover to doom is bound Like failless-hand that strikes the ground
Kural 308Save thy soul from burning ire Though tortured like the touch of fire
Kural 309Wishes he gains as he wishes If man refrains from rage vicious!
Kural 310Dead are they who are anger-fed Saints are they from whom wrath has fled