Thirukkural 338 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
குடம்பை தனித்துஒழியப் புள்பறந் தற்றே
உடம்பொடு உயிரிடை நட்பு.
Transliteration
Kutampai Thaniththu Ozhiyap Pulparan
Thatre Utampotu Uyiritai Natpu
Modern English
“The bond between the soul and the body is compared to a bird leaving the nest or egg behind.”
Modern Interpretation
The bond between the soul and the body is compared to a bird leaving the nest or egg behind. The body is a temporary home, not something we can keep forever. For example, caring for your health matters, but it is also wise not to treat appearance as your permanent identity.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The bond between the soul and the body is compared to a bird leaving the nest or egg behind.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The soul from body any day Like bird from egg-shell flies away
G.U. Pope Translation
Birds fly away, and leave the nest deserted bare;Such is the short-lived friendship soul and body share
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The love of the soul to the body is like (the love of) a bird to its egg which it flies away from and leaves empty
Tamil commentary
உடம்பிற்கும் உயிருக்கும் இடையேயான உறவு, முட்டை தனித்துக் கிடக்கப் பறவை பறந்து விடுவது போன்றதே.
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