Thirukkural 77 in English

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

Tamil original

என்பி லதனை வெயில்போலக் காயுமே
அன்பி லதனை அறம்.

Transliteration

Enpi Ladhanai Veyilpolak Kaayume
Anpi Ladhanai Aram

English Translation

“Justice burns the loveless form Like solar blaze the boneless worm”

Plain-English meaning

Virtue will burn up the soul which is without love, even as the sun burns up the creature which is without bone, ie worms

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Justice burns the loveless form Like solar blaze the boneless worm

G.U. Pope Translation

As sun's fierce ray dries up the boneless things,So loveless beings virtue's power to nothing brings

Plain-English Meaning

Virtue will burn up the soul which is without love, even as the sun burns up the creature which is without bone, ie worms

எலும்பு இல்லாத புழுவை வெயில் காய்ந்து கொள்வது போல அன்பு இல்லாத உயிரை அறக்கடவுள் காய்ந்து கொல்லும்.

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!