Thirukkural 824 in English

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

Tamil original

முகத்தின் இனிய நகாஅ அகத்தின்னா
வஞ்சரை அஞ்சப் படும்.

Transliteration

Mukaththin Iniya Nakaaa Akaththinnaa
Vanjarai Anjap Patum

English Translation

“Fear foes whose face has winning smiles Whose heart is full of cunning guiles”

Plain-English meaning

One should fear the deceitful who smile sweetly with their face but never love with their heart

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Fear foes whose face has winning smiles Whose heart is full of cunning guiles

G.U. Pope Translation

'Tis fitting you should dread dissemblers' guile,Whose hearts are bitter while their faces smile

Plain-English Meaning

One should fear the deceitful who smile sweetly with their face but never love with their heart

நாம் காணும்போது முகத்தால் இனிதாகச் சிரித்து, மனத்தால் எப்போதும் பகைவராய் வாழும் வஞ்சகர்களுக்கு அஞ்சவேண்டும்.

Chapter 83

கூடா நட்பு

The friendship by an enemy shown Is anvil in time, to strike you down

Who pretend kinship but are not Their friendship's fickle like woman's heart

They may be vast in good studies But heartfelt-love is hard for foes

Fear foes whose face has winning smiles Whose heart is full of cunning guiles

Do not trust in what they tell Whose mind with your mind goes ill

The words of foes is quickly seen Though they speak like friends in fine

Trust not the humble words of foes Danger darts from bending bows

Adoring hands of foes hide arms Their sobbing tears have lurking harms

In open who praise, at heart despise Cajole and crush them in friendly guise

When foes, in time, play friendship's part Feign love on face but not in heart