Thirukkural 436 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
தன்குற்றம் நீக்கிப் பிறர்குற்றங் காண்கிற்பின்
என்குற்ற மாகும் இறைக்கு?
Transliteration
Thankutram Neekkip Pirarkutrang Kaankirpin
Enkutra Maakum Iraikku?
Modern English
“Before judging other people's faults, a leader should remove the same faults from their own conduct.”
Modern Interpretation
Before judging other people's faults, a leader should remove the same faults from their own conduct. For example, a team captain should admit being late before demanding better punctuality from everyone else.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Before judging other people's faults, a leader should remove the same faults from their own conduct.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
What fault can be the king's who cures First his faults, then scans others
G.U. Pope Translation
Faultless the king who first his own faults cures, and thenPermits himself to scan faults of other men
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What fault will remain in the king who has put away his own evils, and looks after the evils of others
Tamil commentary
முதலில் தன் குற்றத்தைக் கண்டு விலக்கிப் பிறகு அடுத்தவர் குற்றத்தைக் காணும் ஆற்றல் மிக்க அரசிற்குக் குற்றம் ஏதும் வராது!
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