Thirukkural 72 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

அன்பிலார் எல்லாம் தமக்குரியர் அன்புடையார்
என்பும் உரியர் பிறர்க்கு.

Transliteration

Anpilaar Ellaam Thamakkuriyar Anputaiyaar
Enpum Uriyar Pirarkku

English Translation

“To selves belong the loveless ones; To oth'rs the loving e'en to bones”

Plain-English meaning

Those who are destitute of love appropriate all they have to themselves; but those who possess love consider even their bones to belong to others

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

To selves belong the loveless ones; To oth'rs the loving e'en to bones

G.U. Pope Translation

The loveless to themselves belong alone;The loving men are others' to the very bone

Plain-English Meaning

Those who are destitute of love appropriate all they have to themselves; but those who possess love consider even their bones to belong to others

அன்பு இல்லாதவர் எல்லாவற்றாலும் தமக்கே உரிமை உடையவராய் இருப்பர். அன்புள்ளவரோ பொருளால் மட்டும் அன்று; உடம்பாலும் பிறர்க்கு உரியவராய் இருப்பர்

Chapter 8

அன்புடைமை

What bolt can bar true love in fact The tricking tears reveal the heart

To selves belong the loveless ones; To oth'rs the loving e'en to bones

Soul is encased in frame of bone To taste the life of love alone

Love yields aspiration and thence Friendship springs up in excellence

The crowning joy of home life flows From peaceful psychic love always

\"Love is virtue's friend\" say know-nots It helps us against evil plots

Justice burns the loveless form Like solar blaze the boneless worm

Life bereft of love is gloom Can sapless tree in desert bloom?

Love is the heart which limbs must move, Or vain the outer parts will prove

The seat of life is love alone; Or beings are but skin and bone!