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

English Translation

“Game ruins wealth and spoils grace Leads to lies and wretched woes”

Plain-English meaning

Gambling destroys property, teaches falsehood, puts an end to benevolence, and brings in misery (here and hereafter)

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

Gambling destroys property, teaches falsehood, puts an end to benevolence, and brings in misery (here and hereafter)

சூதாட்டம் பொருளை அழிக்கும். பொய்யைச் சொல்லச் செய்யும்; மன இரக்கத்தைக் கெடுக்கும்; துன்பத்தையும் தரும்.

Chapter 94

சூது

Avoid gambling, albeit you win Gulping bait-hook what does fish gain?

Can gamblers in life good obtain Who lose a hundred one to gain?

If kings indulge in casting dice All their fortune will flow to foes

Nothing will make you poor like game Which adds to woes and ruins fame

The game, game-hall and gambler's art Who sought with glee have come to nought

Men swallowed by the ogress, dice Suffer grief and want by that vice

If men their time in game-den spend Ancestral wealth and virtues end

Game ruins wealth and spoils grace Leads to lies and wretched woes

Dress, wealth, food, fame, learning-these five In gambler's hand will never thrive

Love for game grows with every loss As love for life with sorrows grows