Thirukkural 926 in English

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

Tamil original

துஞ்சினார் செத்தாரின் வேறல்லர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
நஞ்சுண்பார் கள்ளுண் பவர்.

Transliteration

Thunjinaar Seththaarin Verallar Egngnaandrum
Nanjunpaar Kallun Pavar

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

They that sleep resemble the deed; (likewise) they that drink are no other than poison-eaters

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Sleepers are as the dead, no otherwise they seem;Who drink intoxicating draughts, they poison quaff, we deem

Plain-English Meaning

They that sleep resemble the deed; (likewise) they that drink are no other than poison-eaters

உறங்குபவர், இறந்துபோனவரிலும் வேறுபட்டவர் அல்லர்; அதுபோலவே, எப்போதும் போதைப் பொருளைப் பயன்படுத்துபவர் நஞ்சு உண்பவரிலும் வேறுபட்டவர் அல்லர்.

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?