Thirukkural 938 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பொருள்கெடுத்துப் பொய்மேற் கொளீஇ அருள்கெடுத்து
அல்லல் உழப்பிக்கும் சூது.
Transliteration
Porul Ketuththup Poimer Koleei
Arulketuththu Allal Uzhappikkum Soodhu
Modern English
“Gambling can destroy money, encourage lies, weaken compassion, and bring misery.”
Modern Interpretation
Gambling can destroy money, encourage lies, weaken compassion, and bring misery. For example, a bettor who hides losses may deceive family members and become unable to help anyone else.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Gambling can destroy money, encourage lies, weaken compassion, and bring misery.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Game ruins wealth and spoils grace Leads to lies and wretched woes
G.U. Pope Translation
Gambling wastes wealth, to falsehood bends the soul: it drives awayAll grace, and leaves the man to utter misery a prey
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Gambling destroys property, teaches falsehood, puts an end to benevolence, and brings in misery (here and hereafter)
Tamil commentary
சூதாட்டம் பொருளை அழிக்கும். பொய்யைச் சொல்லச் செய்யும்; மன இரக்கத்தைக் கெடுக்கும்; துன்பத்தையும் தரும்.
Chapter 94
More from Gambling
சூது
Avoid gambling, albeit you win Gulping bait-hook what does fish gain?
Kural 932Can gamblers in life good obtain Who lose a hundred one to gain?
Kural 933If kings indulge in casting dice All their fortune will flow to foes
Kural 934Nothing will make you poor like game Which adds to woes and ruins fame
Kural 935The game, game-hall and gambler's art Who sought with glee have come to nought
Kural 936Men swallowed by the ogress, dice Suffer grief and want by that vice
Kural 937If men their time in game-den spend Ancestral wealth and virtues end
Kural 938Game ruins wealth and spoils grace Leads to lies and wretched woes
Kural 939Dress, wealth, food, fame, learning-these five In gambler's hand will never thrive
Kural 940Love for game grows with every loss As love for life with sorrows grows