Thirukkural 32 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அறத்தினூஉங்கு ஆக்கமும் இல்லை அதனை
மறத்தலின் ஊங்கில்லை கேடு.
Transliteration
Araththinooungu Aakkamum Illai Adhanai
Maraththalin Oongillai Ketu
Modern English
“Nothing improves a person's life more than practising virtue, and nothing causes greater harm than forgetting it.”
Modern Interpretation
Nothing improves a person's life more than practising virtue, and nothing causes greater harm than forgetting it. Good intentions matter only when they shape our actions. For example, a student may know that cheating is wrong but ignore that principle during an important exam. Remembering virtue at the moment of choice protects both their character and their future.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Nothing improves a person's life more than practising virtue, and nothing causes greater harm than forgetting it.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Virtue enhances joy and gain; Forsaking it is fall and pain
G.U. Pope Translation
No greater gain than virtue aught can cause;No greater loss than life oblivious of her laws
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
There can be no greater source of good than (the practice of) virtue; there can be no greater source of evil than the forgetfulness of it
Tamil commentary
அறம் செய்வதை விட நன்மையும் இல்லை. அதைச் செய்ய மறப்பதைவிட கெடுதியும் இல்லை
Chapter 4
More from Assertion of the Strength of Virtue
அறன் வலியுறுத்தல்
From virtue weal and wealth outflow; What greater good can mankind know?
Kural 32Virtue enhances joy and gain; Forsaking it is fall and pain
Kural 33Perform good deeds as much you can Always and everywhere, o man!
Kural 34In spotless mind virtue is found And not in show and swelling sound
Kural 35Four ills eschew and virtue reach, Lust, anger, envy, evil-speech
Kural 36Do good enow; defer it not A deathless aid in death if sought
Kural 37Litter-bearer and rider say Without a word, the fortune's way
Kural 38Like stones that block rebirth and pain Are doing good and good again
Kural 39Weal flows only from virtue done The rest is rue and renown gone
Kural 40Worthy act is virtue done Vice is what we ought to shun