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

English Translation

“The soul from body any day Like bird from egg-shell flies away”

Plain-English meaning

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

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

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

உடம்பிற்கும் உயிருக்கும் இடையேயான உறவு, முட்டை தனித்துக் கிடக்கப் பறவை பறந்து விடுவது போன்றதே.

Chapter 34

நிலையாமை

The worst of follies it is told The fleeting as lasting to hold

Like a drama-crowd wealth gathers Like passing show its pride too goes

Wealth wanes away; but when it comes Take care to do enduring things

The showy day is but a saw Your life, know that, to file and gnaw

Ere tongue benumbs and hiccough comes Rise up to do good deeds betimes

One was yesterday; not today!

Man knows not his next moment On crores of things he is intent

The soul from body any day Like bird from egg-shell flies away

Death is like a slumber deep And birth like waking from that sleep

The life berthed in this body shows A fixed home it never knows