Thirukkural 52 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
மனைமாட்சி இல்லாள்கண் இல்லாயின் வாழ்க்கை
எனைமாட்சித் தாயினும் இல்.
Transliteration
Manaimaatchi Illaalkan Illaayin Vaazhkkai
Enaimaatchith Thaayinum Il
Modern English
“A family's success is not measured only by money, status, or a comfortable house.”
Modern Interpretation
A family's success is not measured only by money, status, or a comfortable house. Without mutual kindness, trust, and responsibility between partners, those achievements feel empty. For example, an impressive home filled with constant insults and dishonesty is not truly a successful household.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A family's success is not measured only by money, status, or a comfortable house.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Bright is home when wife is chaste If not all greatness is but waste
G.U. Pope Translation
If household excellence be wanting in the wife,Howe'er with splendour lived, all worthless is the life
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If the wife be devoid of domestic excellence, whatever (other) greatness be possessed, the conjugal state, is nothing
Tamil commentary
நல்ல குணமும் நல்ல செயல்களும் மனைவியிடம் இல்லாமற் போனால் அவ்வாழ்க்கை எத்தனை சிறப்புகளைப் பெற்றிருந்தாலும் பெறாததே.
Chapter 6
More from The Worth of a Wife
வாழ்க்கைத் துணைநலம்
A good housewife befits the house, Spending with thrift the mate's resource
Kural 52Bright is home when wife is chaste If not all greatness is but waste
Kural 53What is rare when wife is good What can be there when she is bad?
Kural 54What greater fortune is for men Than a constant chaste woman?
Kural 55Her spouse before God who adores, Is like rain that at request pours
Kural 56The good wife guards herself from blame, She tends her spouse and brings him fame
Kural 57Of what avail are watch and ward? Their purity is women's guard
Kural 58Women who win their husbands' heart Shall flourish where the gods resort
Kural 59A cuckold has not the lion-like gait Before his detractors aright
Kural 60An honest wife is home's delight And children good are jewels abright