Kural 921Chapter 93: Not Drinking Palm-Wine

Thirukkural 921 in English

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

Tamil original

உட்கப் படாஅர் ஒளியிழப்பர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
கட்காதல் கொண்டொழுகு வார்.

Transliteration

Utkap Pataaar Oliyizhappar Egngnaandrum
Katkaadhal Kontozhuku Vaar

Modern English

“Those who constantly crave alcohol lose both their good name and the respect that makes others take them seriously.”

Modern Interpretation

Those who constantly crave alcohol lose both their good name and the respect that makes others take them seriously. For example, a talented worker may be passed over for responsibility after repeatedly arriving drunk or unreliable.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

Those who constantly crave alcohol lose both their good name and the respect that makes others take them seriously.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Foes fear not who for toddy craze The addicts daily their glory lose

G.U. Pope Translation

Who love the palm's intoxicating juice, each day,No rev'rence they command, their glory fades away

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

Those who always thirst after drink will neither inspire fear (in others) nor retain the light (of their fame)

Tamil commentary

போதைப் பொருள் மீத எப்போதும் பெருவிருப்பம் கொண்டு இருப்பவரைக் கண்டு எவரும் பயப்படமாட்டார். வாழும் காலத்து மரியாதையும் இழந்த போவார்கள்.

Chapter 93

More from Not Drinking Palm-Wine

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Read all 10 Kurals →

Kural 921

Foes fear not who for toddy craze The addicts daily their glory lose

Kural 922

Drink not liquor; but let them drink Whom with esteem the wise won't think

Kural 923

The drunkard's joy pains ev'n mother's face How vile must it look for the wise?

Kural 924

Good shame turns back from him ashamed Who is guilty of wine condemned

Kural 925

To pay and drink and lose the sense Is nothing but rank ignorance

Kural 926

They take poison who take toddy And doze ev'n like a dead body

Kural 927

The secret drunkards' senses off Make the prying public laugh

Kural 928

Don't say I'm not a drunkard hard The hidden fraud is known abroad

Kural 929

Can torch search one in water sunk? Can reason reach the raving drunk?

Kural 930

The sober seeing the drunkard's plight On selves can't they feel same effect?