Thirukkural 439 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
வியவற்க எஞ்ஞான்றும் தன்னை நயவற்க
நன்றி பயவா வினை.
Transliteration
Viyavarka Egngnaandrum Thannai Nayavarka
Nandri Payavaa Vinai
Modern English
“Do not become dazzled by your own importance, and do not chase actions that bring no real benefit.”
Modern Interpretation
Do not become dazzled by your own importance, and do not chase actions that bring no real benefit. For example, a team leader can skip a flashy project for likes and choose work that genuinely helps people.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Do not become dazzled by your own importance, and do not chase actions that bring no real benefit.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Never boast yourself in any mood Nor do a deed that does no good
G.U. Pope Translation
Never indulge in self-complaisant mood,Nor deed desire that yields no gain of good
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Let no (one) praise himself, at any time; let him not desire to do useless things
Tamil commentary
எவ்வளவு பெரிதாக வளர்ந்தாலும் அகங்காரம் கொண்டு பெரிதாகப் பேசாதே; நாட்டுக்கும் ஆட்சிக்கும் நன்மை தராத செயல்களைச் செய்ய விரும்பாதே.
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