Thirukkural 881 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நிழல்நீரும் இன்னாத இன்னா தமர்நீரும்
இன்னாவாம் இன்னா செயின்.
Transliteration
Nizhalneerum Innaadha Innaa Thamarneerum
Innaavaam Innaa Seyin
Modern English
“Even shade or water becomes harmful if it causes illness; close relationships are no good when they repeatedly cause pain.”
Modern Interpretation
Even shade or water becomes harmful if it causes illness; close relationships are no good when they repeatedly cause pain. For example, a familiar group is not a healthy one if its members constantly undermine you.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Even shade or water becomes harmful if it causes illness; close relationships are no good when they repeatedly cause pain.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Traitorous kinsmen will make you sad As water and shade do harm when bad
G.U. Pope Translation
Water and shade, if they unwholesome prove, will bring you painAnd qualities of friends who treacherous act, will be your bane
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Shade and water are not pleasant, (if) they cause disease; so are the qualities of (one's) relations not agreeable, (if) they cause pain
Tamil commentary
நிழலும் நீரும் முதலில் இனியவாக இருந்தாலும், பிறகு துன்பம் தருவனவே. அதபோல, நெருக்கமான உறவும் சொந்தக் கட்சிக்காரரும் கூடப் பழக்கத்தில் இனியவராக இருந்து, செயலில் துன்பம் தந்தால் அது பெருந் துன்பமே.
Chapter 89
More from Enmity within
உட்பகை
Traitorous kinsmen will make you sad As water and shade do harm when bad
Kural 882You need not sword-like kinsmen fear Fear foes who feign as kinsmen dear
Kural 883The secret foe in days evil Will cut you, beware, like potters' steel
Kural 884The evil-minded foe within Foments trouble, spoils kinsmen!
Kural 885A traitor among kinsmen will Bring life-endangering evil
Kural 886Discord in kings' circle entails Life-destroying deadly evils
Kural 887A house hiding hostiles in core Just seems on like the lid in jar
Kural 888By secret spite the house wears out Like gold crumbling by file's contact
Kural 889Ruin lurks in enmity As slit in sesame though it be
Kural 890Dwell with traitors that hate in heart Is dwelling with snake in selfsame hut