Thirukkural 651 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
துணைநலம் ஆக்கம் த்ருஉம் வினைநலம்
வேண்டிய எல்லாந் தரும்.
Transliteration
Thunainalam Aakkam Tharuum Vinainalam
Ventiya Ellaan Tharum
Modern English
“Good partners can increase your strength, but good work is what brings lasting benefits and fulfills your aims.”
Modern Interpretation
Good partners can increase your strength, but good work is what brings lasting benefits and fulfills your aims. A supportive team may help you start a project, but careful, honest work is what makes it succeed.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Good partners can increase your strength, but good work is what brings lasting benefits and fulfills your aims.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Friendship brings gain; but action pure Does every good thing we desire
G.U. Pope Translation
The good external help confers is worldly gain;By action good men every needed gift obtain
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The efficacy of support will yield (only) wealth; (but) the efficacy of action will yield all that is desired
Tamil commentary
நல்ல துணை, செல்வம் தரும்; செயல் சுத்தமோ நாம் விரும்பிய எல்லாவற்றையும் தரும்.
Chapter 66
More from Purity in Action
வினைத் தூய்மை
Friendship brings gain; but action pure Does every good thing we desire
Kural 652Eschew always acts that do not Bring good nor glory on their part
Kural 653Those in the world desire for fame Should shun the deed that dims their name
Kural 654Though perils press the faultless wise Shun deeds of mean, shameful device
Kural 655Do not wrong act and grieve, \"Alas\" If done, do not repeat it twice
Kural 656Though she who begot thee hungers Shun acts denounced by ancient seers
Kural 657Pinching poverty of the wise Is more than wealth hoarded by Vice
Kural 658Those who dare a forbidden deed Suffer troubles though they succeed
Kural 659Gains from weeping, weeping go Though lost, from good deeds blessings flow
Kural 660The wealth gathered in guilty ways Is water poured in wet clay vase