Thirukkural 597 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
சிதைவிடத்து ஒல்கார் உரவோர் புதையம்பிற்
பட்டுப்பா டூன்றுங் களிறு.
Transliteration
Sidhaivitaththu Olkaar Uravor Pudhaiyampir
Pattuppaa Toondrung Kaliru
Modern English
“People with courage do not give up when setbacks wound them, just as an elephant stands firm under arrows.”
Modern Interpretation
People with courage do not give up when setbacks wound them, just as an elephant stands firm under arrows. After failing an exam, a student who reviews mistakes and tries again shows this resilience.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
People with courage do not give up when setbacks wound them, just as an elephant stands firm under arrows.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Elephants are firm when arrows hit Great minds keep fit ev'n in defeat
G.U. Pope Translation
The men of lofty mind quail not in ruin's fateful hour,The elephant retains his dignity mind arrows' deadly shower
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The strong minded will not faint, even when all is lost; the elephant stands firm, even when wounded by a shower of arrows
Tamil commentary
தன்மீது அம்புகள் புதைந்து புண்பட்டபோதும் யானை தளராமல் தன் பெருமையை நிலைநிறுத்தும்; இதுபோல ஊக்கம் உடையவர் தமக்கு கேடு வந்த போதும் ஊக்கம் இழக்கமால் தம் பெருமையை நிலைநிறுத்துவர்.
Chapter 60
More from Energy
ஊக்கம் உடைமை
To own is to own energy All others own but lethargy
Kural 592Psychic heart is wealth indeed Worldly wealth departs in speed
Kural 593The strong in will do not complain The loss of worldly wealth and gain
Kural 594Fortune enquires, enters with boom Where tireless strivers have their home
Kural 595Water depth is lotus height Mental strength is men's merit
Kural 596Let thoughts be always great and grand Though they fail their virtues stand
Kural 597Elephants are firm when arrows hit Great minds keep fit ev'n in defeat
Kural 598Heartless persons cannot boast \"We are liberal to our best\"
Kural 599Huge elephant sharp in tusk quails When tiger, less in form, assails
Kural 600Mental courage is true manhood Lacking that man is like a wood