Kural 898Chapter 90: Not Offending the Great

Thirukkural 898 in English

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

Tamil original

குன்றன்னார் குன்ற மதிப்பின் குடியொடு
நின்றன்னார் மாய்வர் நிலத்து.

Transliteration

Kundrannaar Kundra Madhippin Kutiyotu
Nindrannaar Maaivar Nilaththu

Modern English

“Even people who seem firmly established can fall, along with their households or organizations, when powerful and respected people resolve to oppose them.”

Modern Interpretation

Even people who seem firmly established can fall, along with their households or organizations, when powerful and respected people resolve to oppose them. For example, a corrupt company may collapse after its strongest partners unite against it.

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Modern Plain English

Even people who seem firmly established can fall, along with their households or organizations, when powerful and respected people resolve to oppose them.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

When hill-like sages are held small The firm on earth lose home and all

G.U. Pope Translation

If they, whose virtues like a mountain rise, are light esteemed;They die from earth who, with their households, ever-during seemed

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

If (the) hill-like (devotees) resolve on destruction, those who seemed to be everlasting will be destroyed root and branch from the earth

Tamil commentary

மலை ஒத்த ஆற்றல் உடைய பெரியவர், ஒருவரை அழிக்க எண்ணிவிட்டால், அவர் எண்ணிய அளவிலேயே இப்பூமியில் நிலைபெற்று வாழ்பவர் போன்றோரும், தம் குடியோடும்கூட அழிவர்.

Chapter 90

More from Not Offending the Great

பெரியாரைப் பிழையாமை

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The weak who insult men of might Death with their own hands invite

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Where can they go and thrive where Pursued by powerful monarch's ire?

Kural 896

One can escape in fire caught The great who offends escapes not

Kural 897

If holy mighty sages frown Stately gifts and stores who can own?

Kural 898

When hill-like sages are held small The firm on earth lose home and all

Kural 899

Before the holy sage's rage Ev'n Indra's empire meets damage

Kural 900

Even mighty aided men shall quail If the enraged holy seers will