Thirukkural 883 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உட்பகை அஞ்சித்தற் காக்க உலைவிடத்து
மட்பகையின் மாணத் தெறும்.
Transliteration
Utpakai Anjiththar Kaakka Ulaivitaththu
Matpakaiyin Maanath Therum
Modern English
“Be alert to hostility within your own group, because it can destroy the group in a weak moment like a tool cutting a clay pot.”
Modern Interpretation
Be alert to hostility within your own group, because it can destroy the group in a weak moment like a tool cutting a clay pot. For example, hidden factions can break a team apart when an urgent crisis arrives.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Be alert to hostility within your own group, because it can destroy the group in a weak moment like a tool cutting a clay pot.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The secret foe in days evil Will cut you, beware, like potters' steel
G.U. Pope Translation
Of hidden hate beware, and guard thy life;In troublous time 'twill deeper wound than potter's knife
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Fear internal enmity and guard yourself; (if not) it will destroy (you) in an evil hour, as surely as the tool which cuts the potter's clay
Tamil commentary
உட்பகைக்கு அஞ்சித் தன்னைக் காத்துக் கொள்க; காக்காது போனால் நமக்குத் தளர்வு வந்தபோது, மண்கலத்தை அறுக்கும் கைக்கருவிபோல உட்பகையானவர் நம்மை உறுதியாக அழித்து விடுவர்.
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