Kural 771Chapter 78: Military Spirit

Thirukkural 771 in English

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

Tamil original

என்னைமுன் நில்லன்மின் தெவ்விர் பலரென்னை
முன்நின்று கல்நின் றவர்.

Transliteration

Ennaimun Nillanmin Thevvir Palarennai
Munnindru Kalnin Ravar

Modern English

“The warrior warns enemies that many who challenged his leader ended as memorial stones.”

Modern Interpretation

The warrior warns enemies that many who challenged his leader ended as memorial stones. The image stresses the danger of reckless pride in battle. For example, someone should not provoke a proven expert merely to show off without understanding the consequences.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

The warrior warns enemies that many who challenged his leader ended as memorial stones.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Stand not before my chief, O foes! Many who stood, in stones repose

G.U. Pope Translation

Ye foes stand not before my lord for many a oneWho did my lord withstand, now stands in stone

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

O my foes, stand not before my leader; (for) many are those who did so but afterwards stood (in the shape of) statues

Tamil commentary

பகைவர்கேள! என் அரசின் முன்னே போரிட நிற்காதீர்; உங்களைப் போலவே இதற்கு முன்பு பலர் நின்றனர்; எல்லாம் மறைந்து இப்போது நடுகல்லில் சிலையாக நிற்கின்றனர்.

Chapter 78

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Stand not before my chief, O foes! Many who stood, in stones repose

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