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
Modern English
“Be cautious of a deceitful person who smiles warmly while secretly wishing you harm.”
Modern Interpretation
Be cautious of a deceitful person who smiles warmly while secretly wishing you harm. If someone praises your work but quietly tries to sabotage it, trust their pattern of actions rather than their smile.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Be cautious of a deceitful person who smiles warmly while secretly wishing you harm.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
One should fear the deceitful who smile sweetly with their face but never love with their heart
Tamil commentary
நாம் காணும்போது முகத்தால் இனிதாகச் சிரித்து, மனத்தால் எப்போதும் பகைவராய் வாழும் வஞ்சகர்களுக்கு அஞ்சவேண்டும்.
Chapter 83
More from Unreal Friendship
கூடா நட்பு
The friendship by an enemy shown Is anvil in time, to strike you down
Kural 822Who pretend kinship but are not Their friendship's fickle like woman's heart
Kural 823They may be vast in good studies But heartfelt-love is hard for foes
Kural 824Fear foes whose face has winning smiles Whose heart is full of cunning guiles
Kural 825Do not trust in what they tell Whose mind with your mind goes ill
Kural 826The words of foes is quickly seen Though they speak like friends in fine
Kural 827Trust not the humble words of foes Danger darts from bending bows
Kural 828Adoring hands of foes hide arms Their sobbing tears have lurking harms
Kural 829In open who praise, at heart despise Cajole and crush them in friendly guise
Kural 830When foes, in time, play friendship's part Feign love on face but not in heart