Thirukkural 886 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒன்றாமை ஒன்றியார் கட்படின் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
பொன்றாமை ஒன்றல் அரிது.
Transliteration
Ondraamai Ondriyaar Katpatin Egngnaandrum
Pondraamai Ondral Aridhu
Modern English
“When people who should stand together turn against one another, avoiding collapse becomes very difficult.”
Modern Interpretation
When people who should stand together turn against one another, avoiding collapse becomes very difficult. For example, an organization divided by internal feuds may fail before any outside competitor defeats it.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
When people who should stand together turn against one another, avoiding collapse becomes very difficult.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Discord in kings' circle entails Life-destroying deadly evils
G.U. Pope Translation
If discord finds a place midst those who dwelt at one before,'Tis ever hard to keep destruction from the door
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
If hatred arises among (one's) own people, it will be hardly possible (for one) to escape death
Tamil commentary
தன்னுடன் இருப்பவரின் பகை தோன்றுமானால், ஆட்சியின் அழிவைத் தடுக்க ஒருபோதும் முடியாது.
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