Thirukkural 890 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உடம்பாடு இலாதவர் வாழ்க்கை குடங்கருள்
பாம்போடு உடனுறைந் தற்று.
Transliteration
Utampaatu Ilaadhavar Vaazhkkai Kutangarul
Paampotu Utanurain Thatru
Modern English
“Living with people who do not share goodwill is like sharing a small hut with a snake: every moment feels unsafe.”
Modern Interpretation
Living with people who do not share goodwill is like sharing a small hut with a snake: every moment feels unsafe. For example, roommates who secretly resent one another cannot relax at home.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Living with people who do not share goodwill is like sharing a small hut with a snake: every moment feels unsafe.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Dwell with traitors that hate in heart Is dwelling with snake in selfsame hut
G.U. Pope Translation
Domestic life with those who don't agree,Is dwelling in a shed with snake for company
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Living with those who do not agree (with one) is like dwelling with a cobra (in the same) hut
Tamil commentary
மனப்பொருத்தம் இல்லாதவரோடு சேர்ந்து வாழும் வாழ்க்கை, ஒரு குடிசைக்குள்ளே பாம்புடன் சேர்ந்து வாழ்வது போலாகும்.
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