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

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

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

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

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

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

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!