Thirukkural 343 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அடல்வேண்டும் ஐந்தன் புலத்தை விடல்வேண்டும்
வேண்டிய வெல்லாம் ஒருங்கு.
Transliteration
Atalventum Aindhan Pulaththai Vitalventum
Ventiya Vellaam Orungu
Modern English
“A person seeking freedom must master the five senses and release the things they constantly demand.”
Modern Interpretation
A person seeking freedom must master the five senses and release the things they constantly demand. Giving up the object of a craving is part of overcoming the craving itself. For example, turning off an endless stream of shopping or social-media alerts can help break its hold on your attention.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A person seeking freedom must master the five senses and release the things they constantly demand.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Curb the senses five and renounce The carving desires all at once
G.U. Pope Translation
'Perceptions of the five' must all expire;-Relinquished in its order each desire
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Let the five senses be destroyed; and at the same time, let everything be abandoned that (the ascetic) has (formerly) desired
Tamil commentary
ஆசைகளைப் பிறப்பிக்கும் ஐந்து புலன்களையும் அடக்க வேண்டும்; அவற்றை அடக்குவதற்குத் தனக்குரிய அனைத்தையும் விட்டு விட வேண்டு்ம்.
Chapter 35
More from Renunciation
துறவு
From what from what a man is free From that, from that his torments flee
Kural 342Give up all to gain the True And endless joys shall hence seek you
Kural 343Curb the senses five and renounce The carving desires all at once
Kural 344To have nothing is law of vows Having the least deludes and snares
Kural 345Why add to bonds while this body Is too much for saints to be birth-free
Kural 346Who curbs the pride of I and mine Gets a world rare for gods to gain
Kural 347Grief clings on and on to those Who cling to bonds without release
Kural 348Who renounce all are free from care Others suffer delusive snare
Kural 349Bondage cut off, rebirth is off The world then seems instable stuff
Kural 350Bind Thyself to the unbound one That binding breaks all bonds anon