Thirukkural 863 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
அஞ்சும் அறியான் அமைவிலன் ஈகலான்
தஞ்சம் எளியன் பகைக்கு.
Transliteration
Anjum Ariyaan Amaivilan Eekalaan
Thanjam Eliyan Pakaikku
Modern English
“A fearful, ignorant, uncooperative, and ungenerous person becomes an easy target for opponents.”
Modern Interpretation
A fearful, ignorant, uncooperative, and ungenerous person becomes an easy target for opponents. For example, a leader who refuses advice and never helps others will quickly lose support in a crisis.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A fearful, ignorant, uncooperative, and ungenerous person becomes an easy target for opponents.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Unskilled, timid, miser, misfit He is easy for foes to hit
G.U. Pope Translation
A craven thing! knows nought, accords with none, gives nought away;To wrath of any foe he falls an easy prey
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
In the estimation of foes miserably weak is he, who is timid, ignorant, unsociable and niggardly
Tamil commentary
பயப்பட வேண்டாததற்குப் பயப்பட்டு, அறிய வேண்டியவற்றை அறியாத, பிறரோடு இணங்கிப் போகாத, எவர்க்கும் எதுவும் தராத அரசு, பகைவரால் தோற்கடிக்கப்படுவதற்கு மிக எளிது.
Chapter 87
More from The Might of Hatred
பகை மாட்சி
Turn from strife with foes too strong With the feeble for battle long
Kural 862Loveless, aidless, powerless king Can he withstand an enemy strong?
Kural 863Unskilled, timid, miser, misfit He is easy for foes to hit
Kural 864The wrathful restive man is prey To any, anywhere any day
Kural 865Crooked, cruel, tactless and base Any foe can fell him with ease
Kural 866Blind in rage and mad in lust To have his hatred is but just
Kural 867Pay and buy his enmity Who muddles chance with oddity
Kural 868With no virtue but full of vice He loses friends and delights foes
Kural 869The joy of heroes knows no bounds When timid fools are opponents
Kural 870Glory's light he will not gain Who fails to fight a fool and win