Thirukkural 78 in English

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

Tamil original

அன்பகத் தில்லா உயிர்வாழ்க்கை வன்பாற்கண்
வற்றல் மரந்தளிர்த் தற்று.

Transliteration

Anpakath Thillaa Uyirvaazhkkai Vanpaarkan
Vatral Marandhalirth Thatru

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The domestic state of that man whose mind is without love is like the flourishing of a withered tree upon the parched desert

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

The loveless soul, the very joys of life may know,When flowers, in barren soil, on sapless trees, shall blow

Plain-English Meaning

The domestic state of that man whose mind is without love is like the flourishing of a withered tree upon the parched desert

மனத்தில் அன்பு இல்லாமல் குடும்பத்தோடு வாழும் வாழ்க்கை, வறண்ட பாலை நிலத்தில் காய்ந்து சுக்காகிப் போன மரம் மீண்டும் இலை விடுவது போலாம்.

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!