Thirukkural 888 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

அரம்பொருத பொன்போலத் தேயும் உரம்பொருது
உட்பகை உற்ற குடி.

Transliteration

Aramporudha Ponpolath Theyum Uramporudhu
Utpakai Utra Kuti

English Translation

“By secret spite the house wears out Like gold crumbling by file's contact”

Plain-English meaning

A family subject to internal hatred will wear out and lose its strength like iron that has been filed away

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

By secret spite the house wears out Like gold crumbling by file's contact

G.U. Pope Translation

As gold with which the file contends is worn away,So strength of house declines where hate concealed hath sway

Plain-English Meaning

A family subject to internal hatred will wear out and lose its strength like iron that has been filed away

அரத்தால் தேய்க்கப்படும் இரும்பு தேய்வது போல, உட்பகை கொண்ட குடு்ம்‌பமும் கட்சியும் அரசும் தமக்கும் பொருது தம் பலம் இழக்கும்.

Chapter 89

உட்பகை

Traitorous kinsmen will make you sad As water and shade do harm when bad

You need not sword-like kinsmen fear Fear foes who feign as kinsmen dear

The secret foe in days evil Will cut you, beware, like potters' steel

The evil-minded foe within Foments trouble, spoils kinsmen!

A traitor among kinsmen will Bring life-endangering evil

Discord in kings' circle entails Life-destroying deadly evils

A house hiding hostiles in core Just seems on like the lid in jar

By secret spite the house wears out Like gold crumbling by file's contact

Ruin lurks in enmity As slit in sesame though it be

Dwell with traitors that hate in heart Is dwelling with snake in selfsame hut