Thirukkural 448 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இடிப்பாரை இல்லாத ஏமரா மன்னன்
கெடுப்பா ரிலானுங் கெடும்.
Transliteration
Itippaarai Illaadha Emaraa Mannan
Ketuppaa Rilaanung Ketum
Modern English
“Without people who can point out mistakes, even an unopposed leader can destroy their own work.”
Modern Interpretation
Without people who can point out mistakes, even an unopposed leader can destroy their own work. For example, a group leader who listens only to praise may miss a budget problem until the project fails.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Without people who can point out mistakes, even an unopposed leader can destroy their own work.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The careless king whom none reproves Ruins himself sans harmful foes
G.U. Pope Translation
The king with none to censure him, bereft of safeguards all,Though none his ruin work, shall surely ruined fall
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The king, who is without the guard of men who can rebuke him, will perish, even though there be no one to destroy him
Tamil commentary
தீயன கண்டபோது கடிந்து சொல்லும் துறைப் பெரியவரைத் துணையாகக் கொள்ளாத பாதுகாப்பு அற்ற அரசு, அதைக் கெடுப்பார் இல்லாமலேயே தானாகவே கெடும்.
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