Thirukkural 681 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அன்புடைமை ஆன்ற குடிப்பிறத்தல் வேந்தவாம்
பண்புடைமை தூதுரைப்பான் பண்பு.
Transliteration
Anputaimai Aandra Kutippiraththal Vendhavaam
Panputaimai Thoodhuraippaan Panpu
Modern English
“A good ambassador needs affection for their people, a respected character, and qualities their ruler can trust.”
Modern Interpretation
A good ambassador needs affection for their people, a respected character, and qualities their ruler can trust. A student representing a club should care about its members and behave in a way that earns confidence.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A good ambassador needs affection for their people, a respected character, and qualities their ruler can trust.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Love, noble birth, good courtesy Pleasing kings mark true embassy
G.U. Pope Translation
Benevolence high birth, the courtesy kings love:-These qualities the envoy of a king approve
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The qualification of an ambassador are affection (for his relations) a fitting birth, and the possession of attributes pleasing to royalty
Tamil commentary
நாட்டு மக்கள், அரசு, உறவு இவற்றின் மீது அன்பும், நற்குணம் நிறைந்த குடிப்பிறப்பும், அரசு விரும்பும் பண்பும் கொண்டிருப்பவரே தூதர்.
Chapter 69
More from The Envoy
தூது
Love, noble birth, good courtesy Pleasing kings mark true embassy
Kural 682Envoys must bear love for their prince Knowledge and learned eloquence
Kural 683Savant among savants, he pleads Before lanced king, triumphant words
Kural 684Who has these three: good form, sense, lore Can act as bold ambassador
Kural 685Not harsh, the envoy's winsome ways Does good by pleasant words concise
Kural 686Learned; fearless, the envoy tends Convincing words which time demands
Kural 687Knowing duty time and place The envoy employs mature phrase
Kural 688The true envoy of three virtues Is pure helpful and bold in views
Kural 689The envoy who ports the king's message Has flawless words and heart's courage
Kural 690Braving death the bold envoy Assures his king's safety and joy