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?

English Translation

“Who turns from righteous family To be a monk, what profits he?”

Plain-English meaning

What will he who lives virtuously in the domestic state gain by going into the other, (ascetic) state ?

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

What will he who lives virtuously in the domestic state gain by going into the other, (ascetic) state ?

மனைவியோடு கூடிய வாழ்க்கையை அதற்குரிய இயல்புகளோடு அறவழிகளில் நடத்தினால் இல்லறத்திற்கு மாறான பிற வழிகளில் போய்ப் பெறும் பயன்தான் என்ன?

Chapter 5

இல்வாழ்க்கை

The ideal householder is he Who aids the natural orders there

His help the monk and retired share, And celibate students are his care

By dutiful householder's aid God, manes, kin, self and guests are served

Sin he shuns and food he shares His home is bright and brighter fares

In grace and gain the home excels, Where love with virtue sweetly dwells

Who turns from righteous family To be a monk, what profits he?

Of all who strive for bliss, the great Is he who leads the married state

Straight in virtue, right in living Make men brighter than monks praying

Home-life and virtue, are the same; Which spotless monkhood too can claim

He is a man of divine worth Who lives in ideal home on earth