Thirukkural 39 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அறத்தான் வருவதே இன்பம் மற்றெல்லாம்
புறத்த புகழும் இல.
Transliteration
Araththaan Varuvadhe Inpam Mar
Rellaam Puraththa Pukazhum Ila
Modern English
“Happiness gained through honest and responsible living is genuine happiness.”
Modern Interpretation
Happiness gained through honest and responsible living is genuine happiness. Pleasure gained by cheating, hurting others, or betraying trust may feel exciting for a moment, but it brings fear, guilt, or shame. For example, a family can enjoy a simple meal earned through fair work more peacefully than an expensive celebration funded by deception.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Happiness gained through honest and responsible living is genuine happiness.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Weal flows only from virtue done The rest is rue and renown gone
G.U. Pope Translation
What from virtue floweth, yieldeth dear delight;All else extern, is void of glory's light
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Only that pleasure which flows from domestic virtue is pleasure; all else is not pleasure, and it is without praise
Tamil commentary
அறத்துடன் வருவதே இன்பம்; பிற வழிகளில் வருவன துன்பமே; புகழும் ஆகா
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