Thirukkural 336 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நெருநல் உளனொருவன் இன்றில்லை என்னும்
பெருமை உடைத்துஇவ் வுலகு.
Transliteration
Nerunal Ulanoruvan Indrillai Ennum
Perumai Utaiththuiv Vulaku
Modern English
“This world shows its impermanence by making someone who was alive yesterday absent today.”
Modern Interpretation
This world shows its impermanence by making someone who was alive yesterday absent today. No person can assume that life will remain unchanged. For example, hearing that a familiar neighbor has died can remind us to value people while they are still with us.
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Modern Plain English
This world shows its impermanence by making someone who was alive yesterday absent today.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
One was yesterday; not today!
G.U. Pope Translation
Existing yesterday, today to nothing hurled!-Such greatness owns this transitory world
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
This world possesses the greatness that one who yesterday was is not today
Tamil commentary
நேற்று இருந்த ஒருவன் இன்று இல்லை என்று சொல்லும்படி நிலையாமையை உடையது இவ்வுலகம்.
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