Thirukkural 923 in English

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

Tamil original

ஈன்றாள் முகத்தேயும் இன்னாதால் என்மற்றுச்
சான்றோர் முகத்துக் களி.

Transliteration

Eendraal Mukaththeyum Innaadhaal Enmatruch
Chaandror Mukaththuk Kali

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

Intoxication is painful even in the presence of (one's) mother; what will it not then be in that of the wise ?

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

The drunkard's joy is sorrow to his mother's eyes;What must it be in presence of the truly wise

Plain-English Meaning

Intoxication is painful even in the presence of (one's) mother; what will it not then be in that of the wise ?

போதைப் பொருளைப் பயன்படுத்துவது தாய் முன்பே கொடுமை; நிலைமை இப்படி இருக்கச் சான்றோர் முன்பு எப்படி மகிழ்ச்சியாகும்?

Chapter 93

கள்ளுண்ணாமை

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

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

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

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

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

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

The secret drunkards' senses off Make the prying public laugh

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

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

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