Thirukkural 46 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அறத்தாற்றின் இல்வாழ்க்கை ஆற்றின் புறத்தாற்றில்
போஒய்ப் பெறுவ தெவன்?
Transliteration
Araththaatrin Ilvaazhkkai Aatrin Puraththaatril
Pooip Peruva Thevan?
Modern English
“A person who lives responsibly in family life already practises many of the highest virtues.”
Modern Interpretation
A person who lives responsibly in family life already practises many of the highest virtues. There is no need to escape ordinary responsibilities to prove spiritual worth if one's home life is guided by love, honesty, and duty. For example, a parent who cares for a family, serves the community, and remains ethical under pressure may be living as nobly as someone who chooses a life of withdrawal.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A person who lives responsibly in family life already practises many of the highest virtues.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who turns from righteous family To be a monk, what profits he?
G.U. Pope Translation
If man in active household life a virtuous soul retain,What fruit from other modes of virtue can he gain
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What will he who lives virtuously in the domestic state gain by going into the other, (ascetic) state ?
Tamil commentary
மனைவியோடு கூடிய வாழ்க்கையை அதற்குரிய இயல்புகளோடு அறவழிகளில் நடத்தினால் இல்லறத்திற்கு மாறான பிற வழிகளில் போய்ப் பெறும் பயன்தான் என்ன?
Chapter 5
More from Domestic Life
இல்வாழ்க்கை
The ideal householder is he Who aids the natural orders there
Kural 42His help the monk and retired share, And celibate students are his care
Kural 43By dutiful householder's aid God, manes, kin, self and guests are served
Kural 44Sin he shuns and food he shares His home is bright and brighter fares
Kural 45In grace and gain the home excels, Where love with virtue sweetly dwells
Kural 46Who turns from righteous family To be a monk, what profits he?
Kural 47Of all who strive for bliss, the great Is he who leads the married state
Kural 48Straight in virtue, right in living Make men brighter than monks praying
Kural 49Home-life and virtue, are the same; Which spotless monkhood too can claim
Kural 50He is a man of divine worth Who lives in ideal home on earth