Thirukkural 577 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கண்ணோட்டம் இல்லவர் கண்ணிலர் கண்ணுடையார்
கண்ணோட்டம் இன்மையும் இல்.
Transliteration
Kannottam Illavar Kannilar Kannutaiyaar
Kannottam Inmaiyum Il
Modern English
“A person who never shows compassion is described as having no true sight; real seeing includes noticing others' needs.”
Modern Interpretation
A person who never shows compassion is described as having no true sight; real seeing includes noticing others' needs. A teammate who spots someone struggling and offers help is using their eyes wisely.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A person who never shows compassion is described as having no true sight; real seeing includes noticing others' needs.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Ungracious men lack real eyes Men of real eyes show benign grace
G.U. Pope Translation
Eyeless are they whose eyes with no benignant lustre shine;Who've eyes can never lack the light of grace benign
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Men without kind looks are men without eyes; those who (really) have eyes are also not devoid of kind looks
Tamil commentary
கண்ணோட்டம் இல்லாதவர் கண் இல்லாதவரே; கண் இருப்பவர் கண்ணோட்டம் இல்லாதவராக இருப்பதும் இல்லை.
Chapter 58
More from Benignity
கண்ணோட்டம்
Living in the world implies The bounteous dame of benign eyes
Kural 572World lives by looks of lovely worth Who lack them are burdens of earth
Kural 573Of tuneless song what is the use? Without gracious looks what are eyes?
Kural 574Except that they are on the face What for are eyes sans measured grace
Kural 575Kind looks are jewels for eyes to wear Without them they are felt as sore
Kural 576Like trees on inert earth they grow Who don't eye to eye kindness show
Kural 577Ungracious men lack real eyes Men of real eyes show benign grace
Kural 578Who gracious are but dutiful Have right for this earth beautiful
Kural 579To be benign and bear with foes Who vex us is true virtue's phase
Kural 580Men of graceful courtesy Take hemlock and look cheerfully