Thirukkural 40 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
செயற்பால தோரும் அறனே ஒருவற்கு
உயற்பால தோரும் பழி.
Transliteration
Seyarpaala Thorum Arane Oruvarku
Uyarpaala Thorum Pazhi
Modern English
“Our main duty is to do what is right and avoid what causes harm.”
Modern Interpretation
Our main duty is to do what is right and avoid what causes harm. Virtue is not merely something to admire in other people; it is a personal responsibility in daily choices. For example, returning a lost phone is a simple act of integrity, while keeping it because nobody saw you find it is a choice to avoid.
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Modern Plain English
Our main duty is to do what is right and avoid what causes harm.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Worthy act is virtue done Vice is what we ought to shun
G.U. Pope Translation
'Virtue' sums the things that should be done;'Vice' sums the things that man should shun
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
That is virtue which each ought to do, and that is vice which each should shun
Tamil commentary
ஒருவன் செய்யத் தக்கது அறமே; விட்டுவிடத் தக்கவை தீய செயல்களே.
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