Thirukkural 362 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
வேண்டுங்கால் வேண்டும் பிறவாமை மற்றது
வேண்டாமை வேண்ட வரும்.
Transliteration
Ventungaal Ventum Piravaamai Matradhu
Ventaamai Venta Varum
Modern English
“If we seek the highest freedom, we should seek freedom from desire itself.”
Modern Interpretation
If we seek the highest freedom, we should seek freedom from desire itself. For example, wanting enough rather than always wanting more can loosen the pressure to keep upgrading everything we own.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
If we seek the highest freedom, we should seek freedom from desire itself.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
If long thou must, long for non-birth It comes by longing no more for earth
G.U. Pope Translation
If desire you feel, freedom from changing birth require!'I' will come, if you desire to 'scape, set free from all desire
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If anything be desired, freedom from births should be desired; that (freedom from births) will be attained by desiring to be without desire
Tamil commentary
பிறவாமையை எப்போது விரும்புகிறோமோ அப்போது அந்த நிலை நமக்கு வர வேண்டும். ஆசையற்று இருப்பதை விரும்பும்போதுதான் அந்த நிலை நமக்கு உண்டாகும்.
Chapter 37
More from Curbing of Desire
அவா அறுத்தல்
Desire to all, always is seed From which ceaseless births proceed
Kural 362If long thou must, long for non-birth It comes by longing no more for earth
Kural 363No such wealth is here and there As peerless wealth of non-desire
Kural 364To nothing crave is purity That is the fruit of verity
Kural 365The free are those who desire not The rest not free in bonds are caught
Kural 366Dread desire; Virtue is there To every soul desire is snare!
Kural 367Destroy desire; deliverance Comes as much as you aspire hence
Kural 368Desire extinct no sorrow-taints Grief comes on grief where it pretends
Kural 369Desire, the woe of woes destroy Joy of joys here you enjoy
Kural 370Off with desire insatiate You gain the native blissful state