Thirukkural 600 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உரமொருவற்கு உள்ள வெறுக்கைஅஃ தில்லார்
மரம்மக்க ளாதலே வேறு.
Transliteration
Uramoruvarku Ulla Verukkaiaq Thillaar
Marammakka Laadhale Veru
Modern English
“What makes a person fully human is the strength to think, choose, and act with purpose; without it, a life can become merely passive.”
Modern Interpretation
What makes a person fully human is the strength to think, choose, and act with purpose; without it, a life can become merely passive. Someone who simply follows every crowd may look independent but is not using their own judgment.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
What makes a person fully human is the strength to think, choose, and act with purpose; without it, a life can become merely passive.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Mental courage is true manhood Lacking that man is like a wood
G.U. Pope Translation
Firmness of soul in man is real excellance;Others are trees, their human form a mere pretence
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Energy is mental wealth; those men who are destitute of it are only trees in the form of men
Tamil commentary
ஊக்க மிகுதியே ஒருவனுக்குத் திண்ணிய அறிவு. அவ்வூக்கம் இல்லாதவர் வடிவத்தால் மக்கள்; மனத்தாலோ வெறும் மரமே.
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