Thirukkural 6 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பொறிவாயில் ஐந்தவித்தான் பொய்தீர் ஒழுக்க
நெறிநின்றார் நீடுவாழ் வார்.
Transliteration
Porivaayil Aindhaviththaan Poidheer Ozhukka
Nerinindraar Neetuvaazh Vaar
Modern English
“Many problems begin when we act on every temptation that comes our way.”
Modern Interpretation
Many problems begin when we act on every temptation that comes our way. We may spend money we cannot afford, speak in anger, overindulge in pleasures, or chase short-term satisfaction without thinking about the consequences. People who learn to pause, think, and control their impulses make better decisions and build stronger lives. For example, when someone receives a hurtful message, their first impulse may be to react immediately in anger. Instead, they wait, calm down, and respond thoughtfully the next day. That one act of self-control can save a friendship, a relationship, or even a career. This Kural teaches that true freedom comes not from doing whatever we want, but from having the strength to choose what is right.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Many problems begin when we act on every temptation that comes our way.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
They prosper long who walk His way Who has the senses signed away
G.U. Pope Translation
Long live they blest, who 've stood in path from falsehood freed;His, 'Who quenched lusts that from the sense-gates five proceed'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those shall long proposer who abide in the faultless way of Him who has destroyed the five desires of the senses
Tamil commentary
மெய், வாய், கண், மூக்கு, செவி ஆகிய ஐந்து பொறிகளின் வழிப் பிறக்கும் தீய ஆசைகளை அழித்து கடவுளின் பொய்யற்ற ஒழுக்க வழியிலே நின்றவர் நெடுங்காலம் வாழ்வார்
Chapter 1
More from The Praise of God
கடவுள் வாழ்த்து
'A' leads letters; the Ancient Lord Leads and lords the entire world
Kural 2That lore is vain which does not fall At His good feet who knoweth all
Kural 3Long they live on earth who gain The feet of God in florid brain
Kural 4Who hold His feet who likes nor loathes Are free from woes of human births
Kural 5God's praise who tell, are free from right And wrong, the twins of dreaming night
Kural 6They prosper long who walk His way Who has the senses signed away
Kural 7His feet, whose likeness none can find, Alone can ease the anxious mind
Kural 8Who swims the sea of vice is he Who clasps the feet of Virtue's sea
Kural 9Like senses stale that head is vain Which bows not to Eight-Virtued Divine
Kural 10The sea of births they alone swim Who clench His feet and cleave to Him