Thirukkural 43 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தென்புலத்தார் தெய்வம் விருந்தொக்கல் தானென்றாங்கு
ஐம்புலத்தாறு ஓம்பல் தலை.
Transliteration
Thenpulaththaar Theyvam Virundhokkal Thaanendraangu
Aimpulaththaaru Ompal Thalai
Modern English
“A responsible household balances several duties: remembering those who came before us, respecting the sacred, welcoming guests, caring for relatives, and looking after oneself.”
Modern Interpretation
A responsible household balances several duties: remembering those who came before us, respecting the sacred, welcoming guests, caring for relatives, and looking after oneself. These duties can be understood today as gratitude, spiritual respect, hospitality, family care, and personal responsibility. For example, a family may honour its elders, welcome a new neighbour, support relatives, and still protect time for rest and health.
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Modern Plain English
A responsible household balances several duties: remembering those who came before us, respecting the sacred, welcoming guests, caring for relatives, and looking after oneself.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
By dutiful householder's aid God, manes, kin, self and guests are served
G.U. Pope Translation
The manes, God, guests kindred, self, in due degree,These five to cherish well is chiefest charity
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The chief (duty of the householder) is to preserve the five-fold rule (of conduct) towards the manes, the Gods, his guests, his relations and himself
Tamil commentary
இறந்து தென்திசையில் வாழ்பவர், தேவர்கள், விருந்தினர், சுற்றத்தார், தான் என்னும் ஐந்து பேருக்கும் செய்ய வேண்டிய அறத்தைத் தவறாமல் செய்வது சிறப்பு.
Chapter 5
More from Domestic Life
இல்வாழ்க்கை
The ideal householder is he Who aids the natural orders there
Kural 42His help the monk and retired share, And celibate students are his care
Kural 43By dutiful householder's aid God, manes, kin, self and guests are served
Kural 44Sin he shuns and food he shares His home is bright and brighter fares
Kural 45In grace and gain the home excels, Where love with virtue sweetly dwells
Kural 46Who turns from righteous family To be a monk, what profits he?
Kural 47Of all who strive for bliss, the great Is he who leads the married state
Kural 48Straight in virtue, right in living Make men brighter than monks praying
Kural 49Home-life and virtue, are the same; Which spotless monkhood too can claim
Kural 50He is a man of divine worth Who lives in ideal home on earth