Thirukkural 433 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தினைத்துணையாங் குற்றம் வரினும் பனைத்துணையாக்
கொள்வர் பழிநாணு வார்.
Transliteration
Thinaiththunaiyaang Kutram Varinum Panaiththunaiyaak
Kolvar Pazhinaanu Vaar
Modern English
“People who care about their good name treat even a tiny wrong as something serious.”
Modern Interpretation
People who care about their good name treat even a tiny wrong as something serious. For example, they correct a copied sentence in an assignment instead of telling themselves that a small piece of cheating does not matter.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
People who care about their good name treat even a tiny wrong as something serious.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Though millet-small their faults might seem Men fearing disgrace, Palm-tall deem
G.U. Pope Translation
Though small as millet-seed the fault men deem;As palm tree vast to those who fear disgrace 'twill seem
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those who fear guilt, if they commit a fault small as a millet seed, will consider it to be as large as a palmyra tree
Tamil commentary
பழிபாவங்களுக்கு அஞ்சி, நானும் பெரியோர், தினை என மிகச்சிறிய அளவே குற்றம் வந்தாலும், அதனைப் பனை என மிகப்பெரிய அளவாகக் கொள்வர்.
Chapter 44
More from The Correction of Faults
குற்றங்கடிதல்
Plenty is their prosperity Who're free from wrath pride lust petty
Kural 432Mean pride, low pleasure, avarice These add blemishes to a prince
Kural 433Though millet-small their faults might seem Men fearing disgrace, Palm-tall deem
Kural 434Watch like treasure freedom from fault Our fatal foe is that default
Kural 435Who fails to guard himself from flaw Loses his life like flame-lit straw
Kural 436What fault can be the king's who cures First his faults, then scans others
Kural 437That miser's wealth shall waste and end Who would not for a good cause spend
Kural 438The gripping greed of miser's heart Is more than fault the worst apart
Kural 439Never boast yourself in any mood Nor do a deed that does no good
Kural 440All designs of the foes shall fail If one his wishes guards in veil