Kural 79Chapter 8: The Possession of Love

Thirukkural 79 in English

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

Tamil original

புறத்துறுப் பெல்லாம் எவன்செய்யும் யாக்கை
அகத்துறுப்பு அன்பி லவர்க்கு.

Transliteration

Puraththurup Pellaam Evanseyyum Yaakkai
Akaththuruppu Anpi Lavarkku

Modern English

“External success cannot make up for a complete lack of love and compassion.”

Modern Interpretation

External success cannot make up for a complete lack of love and compassion. Skills, appearance, possessions, and status are useful only when guided by a caring heart. For example, a wealthy person who refuses every request for help may look successful but contributes little to the well-being of others.

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

Compare translations

Modern Plain English

External success cannot make up for a complete lack of love and compassion.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Though every outward part complete, the body's fitly framed;What good, when soul within, of love devoid, lies halt and maimed

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

Of what avail are all the external members (of the body) to those who are destitute of love, the internal member

Tamil commentary

குடும்பத்திற்கு அக உறுப்பாகிய அன்பு இல்லாவதர்களுக்கு வெளி உறுப்பாக விளங்கும் இடம், பொருள், ஏவல் என்பன என்ன பயனைத் தரும்?

Chapter 8

More from The Possession of Love

அன்புடைமை

Read all 10 Kurals →

Kural 71

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

Kural 72

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

Kural 73

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

Kural 74

Love yields aspiration and thence Friendship springs up in excellence

Kural 75

The 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 77

Justice burns the loveless form Like solar blaze the boneless worm

Kural 78

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

Kural 79

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

Kural 80

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