Thirukkural 601 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
குடியென்னும் குன்றா விளக்கம் மடியென்னும்
மாசூர மாய்ந்து கெடும்.
Transliteration
Kutiyennum Kundraa Vilakkam Matiyennum
Maasoora Maaindhu Ketum
Modern English
“Idleness can dim even a family's good name, like dust covering a lamp.”
Modern Interpretation
Idleness can dim even a family's good name, like dust covering a lamp. For example, a student who keeps avoiding responsibilities may eventually damage the reputation their family worked to build.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Idleness can dim even a family's good name, like dust covering a lamp.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Quenchless lamp of ancestry goes When foul idleness encloses
G.U. Pope Translation
Of household dignity the lustre beaming bright,Flickers and dies when sluggish foulness dims its light
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
By the darkness, of idleness, the indestructible lamp of family (rank) will be extinguished
Tamil commentary
ஒருவனிடம் சோம்பல் என்னும் இருள் நெருங்கினால் அவன் பிறந்த குடும்பமாகிய அணையாத விளக்கு ஒளி மங்கி அழிந்து போகும்.
Chapter 61
More from Unsluggishness
மடி இன்மை
Quenchless lamp of ancestry goes When foul idleness encloses
Kural 602To make your home an ideal home Loath sloth as sloth; refuse it room
Kural 603The fool who fosters sluggishness Before he dies ruins his house
Kural 604Who strive not high, sunk deep in sloth Ruin their house by evil growth
Kural 605To lag, forget, idle and doze These four are pleasure boats of loss
Kural 606With all the wealth of lords of earth The slothful gain nothing of worth
Kural 607The slothful lacking noble deeds Subject themselves to scornful words
Kural 608If sloth invades a noble house It will become a slave of foes
Kural 609The blots on race and rule shall cease When one from sloth gets his release
Kural 610The slothless king shall gain en masse *All regions trod by Lord apace * Hindu mythology holds that Lord Vishnu measured with his feet the three worlds