Thirukkural 447 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இடிக்குந் துணையாரை யாள்வரை யாரே
கெடுக்குந் தகைமை யவர்.
Transliteration
Itikkun Thunaiyaarai Yaalvarai Yaare
Ketukkun Thakaimai Yavar
Modern English
“A leader who keeps advisers willing to give firm, honest correction is difficult to ruin.”
Modern Interpretation
A leader who keeps advisers willing to give firm, honest correction is difficult to ruin. For example, a board member who warns about an unsafe decision may save an entire organisation from a costly mistake.
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Modern Plain English
A leader who keeps advisers willing to give firm, honest correction is difficult to ruin.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
No foe can foil his powers whose friends reprove him when he errs
G.U. Pope Translation
What power can work his fall, who faithful ministersEmploys, that thunder out reproaches when he errs
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Who are great enough to destroy him who has servants that have power to rebuke him ?
Tamil commentary
தீயன கண்டபோது நெருங்கிச் சொல்லும் துறைப் பெரியவரைத் துணையாகக் கொண்டு செயல்படுபவரைக் கெடுக்கக் கூடியவர் எவர்?
Chapter 45
More from Seeking the Aid of Great Men
பெரியாரைத் துணைக்கோடல்
Weigh their worth and friendship gain Of men of virtue and mature brain
Kural 442Cherish the help of men of skill Who ward and safe-guard you from ill
Kural 443Honour and have the great your own Is rarest of the rare things known
Kural 444To have betters as intimates Power of all powers promotes
Kural 445Ministers are the monarch's eyes Round him should be the right and wise
Kural 446To move with worthy friends who knows Has none to fear from frightful foes
Kural 447No foe can foil his powers whose friends reprove him when he errs
Kural 448The careless king whom none reproves Ruins himself sans harmful foes
Kural 449No capital, no gain in trade No prop secure sans good comrade
Kural 450To give up good friends is ten times worse Than being hated by countless foes