Thirukkural 35 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அழுக்காறு அவாவெகுளி இன்னாச்சொல் நான்கும்
இழுக்கா இயன்றது அறம்.
Transliteration
Azhukkaaru Avaavekuli Innaachchol Naankum
Izhukkaa Iyandradhu Aram
Modern English
“A virtuous life avoids four harmful habits: jealousy, uncontrolled desire, anger, and hurtful speech.”
Modern Interpretation
A virtuous life avoids four harmful habits: jealousy, uncontrolled desire, anger, and hurtful speech. These habits often feed one another and damage both the person who acts on them and the people around them. For example, jealousy may lead someone to insult a successful friend, while self-control allows them to congratulate the friend and improve themselves.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
A virtuous life avoids four harmful habits: jealousy, uncontrolled desire, anger, and hurtful speech.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Four ills eschew and virtue reach, Lust, anger, envy, evil-speech
G.U. Pope Translation
'Tis virtue when, his footsteps sliding not through envy, wrath,Lust, evil speech-these four, man onwards moves in ordered path
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
That conduct is virtue which is free from these four things, viz, malice, desire, anger and bitter speech
Tamil commentary
பிறர் மேன்மை கண்டு பொறாமை, புலன்கள் போகும் வழிச் செல்லும் ஆசை, இவை தடைபடும் போது வரும் கோபம், கோபத்தில் பிறக்கும் தீய சொல் எனும் இந்நான்கையும் விலக்கித் தொடர்ந்து செய்யப்படுவது அறம்.
Chapter 4
More from Assertion of the Strength of Virtue
அறன் வலியுறுத்தல்
From virtue weal and wealth outflow; What greater good can mankind know?
Kural 32Virtue enhances joy and gain; Forsaking it is fall and pain
Kural 33Perform good deeds as much you can Always and everywhere, o man!
Kural 34In spotless mind virtue is found And not in show and swelling sound
Kural 35Four ills eschew and virtue reach, Lust, anger, envy, evil-speech
Kural 36Do good enow; defer it not A deathless aid in death if sought
Kural 37Litter-bearer and rider say Without a word, the fortune's way
Kural 38Like stones that block rebirth and pain Are doing good and good again
Kural 39Weal flows only from virtue done The rest is rue and renown gone
Kural 40Worthy act is virtue done Vice is what we ought to shun