Thirukkural 502 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
குடிப்பிறந்து குற்றத்தின் நீங்கி வடுப்பரியும்
நாணுடையான் சுட்டே தெளிவு.
Transliteration
Kutippirandhu Kutraththin Neengi Vatuppariyum
Naanutaiyaan Sutte Thelivu
Modern English
“Trust someone who has a good reputation, avoids wrongdoing, and feels ashamed to harm others.”
Modern Interpretation
Trust someone who has a good reputation, avoids wrongdoing, and feels ashamed to harm others. For example, choose a club treasurer who is careful with shared money and admits mistakes.
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Modern Plain English
Trust someone who has a good reputation, avoids wrongdoing, and feels ashamed to harm others.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Spotless name of noble birth Shamed of stain-that choice is worth
G.U. Pope Translation
Of noble race, of faultless worth, of generous prideThat shrinks from shame or stain; in him may king confide
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
(The king's) choice should (fall) on him, who is of good family, who is free from faults, and who has the modesty which fears the wounds (of sin)
Tamil commentary
நல்ல குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து குற்றம் ஏதும் இல்லாதவனாய்ப் பழிக்கு அஞ்சி, வெட்கப்படுபவனையே பதவிக்குத் தெரிவு செய்யவேண்டும்.
Chapter 51
More from Selection and Confidence
தெரிந்து தெளிதல்
Pleasure, gold, fear of life Virtue- Test by these four and trust the true
Kural 502Spotless name of noble birth Shamed of stain-that choice is worth
Kural 503Though deep scholars of stainless sense Rare is freedom from ignorance
Kural 504Good and evil in man weigh well Judge him by virtues which prevail
Kural 505By the touchstone of deeds is seen If any one is great or mean
Kural 506Choose not those men without kinsmen Without affine or shame of sin
Kural 507On favour leaning fools you choose; Folly in all its forms ensues
Kural 508To trust an untried stranger brings Endless troubles on all our kins
Kural 509Trust not without testing and then Find proper work for trusted men
Kural 510Trust without test; The trusted doubt; Both entail troubles in and out