Thirukkural 76 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அறத்திற்கே அன்புசார் பென்ப அறியார்
மறத்திற்கும் அஃதே துணை.
Transliteration
Araththirke Anpusaar Penpa Ariyaar
Maraththirkum Aqdhe Thunai
Modern English
“Love supports not only kindness but also courage.”
Modern Interpretation
Love supports not only kindness but also courage. People often find the strength to defend what is right because they care about someone or something beyond themselves. For example, a person may speak up against bullying because they cannot bear to see another student suffer. Love can inspire brave and responsible action.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Love supports not only kindness but also courage.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
\"Love is virtue's friend\" say know-nots It helps us against evil plots
G.U. Pope Translation
The unwise deem love virtue only can sustain,It also helps the man who evil would restrain
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The ignorant say that love is an ally to virtue only, but it is also a help to get out of vice
Tamil commentary
அறத்திற்கு மட்டுமே அன்பு துணையாகும் என்று கூறுவோர் அறியாதவரே; மறத்திற்கும் கூட அதுவே காரணம் ஆகும்.
Chapter 8
More from The Possession of Love
அன்புடைமை
What bolt can bar true love in fact The tricking tears reveal the heart
Kural 72To selves belong the loveless ones; To oth'rs the loving e'en to bones
Kural 73Soul is encased in frame of bone To taste the life of love alone
Kural 74Love yields aspiration and thence Friendship springs up in excellence
Kural 75The crowning joy of home life flows From peaceful psychic love always
Kural 76\"Love is virtue's friend\" say know-nots It helps us against evil plots
Kural 77Justice burns the loveless form Like solar blaze the boneless worm
Kural 78Life bereft of love is gloom Can sapless tree in desert bloom?
Kural 79Love is the heart which limbs must move, Or vain the outer parts will prove
Kural 80The seat of life is love alone; Or beings are but skin and bone!