Thirukkural 340 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
புக்கில் அமைந்தின்று கொல்லோ உடம்பினுள்
துச்சில் இருந்த உயிர்க்கு.
Transliteration
Pukkil Amaindhindru Kollo Utampinul
Thuchchil Irundha Uyirkku
Modern English
“The soul living in a body has no permanent home there; the body is only a temporary shelter.”
Modern Interpretation
The soul living in a body has no permanent home there; the body is only a temporary shelter. This image encourages humility about a life that can change at any time. For example, enjoy and care for the life you have without acting as if your present situation can never end.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The soul living in a body has no permanent home there; the body is only a temporary shelter.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The life berthed in this body shows A fixed home it never knows
G.U. Pope Translation
The soul in fragile shed as lodger courts repose:-Is it because no home's conclusive rest it knows
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
It seems as if the soul, which takes a temporary shelter in a body, had not attained a home
Tamil commentary
உடம்பிற்குள் ஒதுங்கி இருந்த உயிருக்கு நிலையான இருப்பிடம் இன்னும் அமையவில்லை போலும்!
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