Thirukkural 335 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நாச்செற்று விக்குள்மேல் வாராமுன் நல்வினை
மேற்சென்று செய்யப் படும்
Transliteration
Naachchetru Vikkulmel Vaaraamun Nalvinai
Mersendru Seyyap Patum
Modern English
“Do good quickly, before illness or death makes speech and action impossible.”
Modern Interpretation
Do good quickly, before illness or death makes speech and action impossible. The chance to help belongs to the time when we are still able to act. For example, call someone who needs support today instead of assuming there will always be another chance.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Do good quickly, before illness or death makes speech and action impossible.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Ere tongue benumbs and hiccough comes Rise up to do good deeds betimes
G.U. Pope Translation
Before the tongue lie powerless, 'mid the gasp of gurgling breath,Arouse thyself, and do good deeds beyond the power of death
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Let virtuous deeds be done quickly, before the hiccup comes making the tongue silent
Tamil commentary
நாவை அடைத்து விக்கல் வருவதற்கு முன், நல்ல செயல்களை விரைந்து செய்ய வேண்டும்.
Chapter 34
More from Instability
நிலையாமை
The worst of follies it is told The fleeting as lasting to hold
Kural 332Like a drama-crowd wealth gathers Like passing show its pride too goes
Kural 333Wealth wanes away; but when it comes Take care to do enduring things
Kural 334The showy day is but a saw Your life, know that, to file and gnaw
Kural 335Ere tongue benumbs and hiccough comes Rise up to do good deeds betimes
Kural 336One was yesterday; not today!
Kural 337Man knows not his next moment On crores of things he is intent
Kural 338The soul from body any day Like bird from egg-shell flies away
Kural 339Death is like a slumber deep And birth like waking from that sleep
Kural 340The life berthed in this body shows A fixed home it never knows