Thirukkural 896 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
எரியால் சுடப்படினும் உய்வுண்டாம் உய்யார்
பெரியார்ப் பிழைத்தொழுகு வார்.
Transliteration
Eriyaal Sutappatinum Uyvuntaam Uyyaar
Periyaarp Pizhaiththozhuku Vaar
Modern English
“A person may survive being burned by fire, but grave disrespect toward someone with great power may leave no safe escape.”
Modern Interpretation
A person may survive being burned by fire, but grave disrespect toward someone with great power may leave no safe escape. For example, do not casually provoke a powerful authority when a serious dispute can be resolved lawfully.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A person may survive being burned by fire, but grave disrespect toward someone with great power may leave no safe escape.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
One can escape in fire caught The great who offends escapes not
G.U. Pope Translation
Though in the conflagration caught, he may escape from thence:He 'scapes not who in life to great ones gives offence
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Though burnt by a fire (from a forest), one may perhaps live; (but) never will he live who has shown disrespect to the great (devotees)
Tamil commentary
தீயால் சுடப்பட்டாலும் பிழைத்துக் கொள்ளலாம். ஆனால் பெரியவர்களை அவமதித்து வாழ்பவர் பிழைக்கவேமாட்டார்.
Chapter 90
More from Not Offending the Great
பெரியாரைப் பிழையாமை
Not to spite the mighty ones Safest safeguard to living brings
Kural 892To walk unmindful of the great Shall great troubles ceaseless create
Kural 893Heed not and do, if ruin you want Offence against the mighty great
Kural 894The weak who insult men of might Death with their own hands invite
Kural 895Where can they go and thrive where Pursued by powerful monarch's ire?
Kural 896One can escape in fire caught The great who offends escapes not
Kural 897If holy mighty sages frown Stately gifts and stores who can own?
Kural 898When hill-like sages are held small The firm on earth lose home and all
Kural 899Before the holy sage's rage Ev'n Indra's empire meets damage
Kural 900Even mighty aided men shall quail If the enraged holy seers will