Thirukkural 347 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பற்றி விடாஅ இடும்பைகள் பற்றினைப்
பற்றி விடாஅ தவர் க்கு.
Transliteration
Patri Vitaaa Itumpaikal Patrinaip
Patri Vitaaa Thavarkku
Modern English
“Sorrows keep holding on to people who refuse to release their desires.”
Modern Interpretation
Sorrows keep holding on to people who refuse to release their desires. When craving loosens its grip, suffering loses much of its grip too. For example, someone who stops measuring their worth by grades or likes is less shaken when those numbers change.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Sorrows keep holding on to people who refuse to release their desires.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Grief clings on and on to those Who cling to bonds without release
G.U. Pope Translation
Who cling to things that cling and eager clasp,Griefs cling to them with unrelaxing grasp
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Sorrows will never let go their hold of those who give not up their hold of desire
Tamil commentary
ஆசைகளைப் பற்றிக்கொண்டு விட முடியாமல் இருப்பவரைத் துன்பங்கள் பற்றிக் கொண்டு விடமாட்டா.
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