Thirukkural 939 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உடைசெல்வம் ஊண்ஒளி கல்விஎன்று ஐந்தும்
அடையாவாம் ஆயங் கொளின்.
Transliteration
Utaiselvam Oonoli Kalviendru Aindhum
Ataiyaavaam Aayang Kolin
Modern English
“Gambling can drive away five essentials: clothing, wealth, food, reputation, and learning.”
Modern Interpretation
Gambling can drive away five essentials: clothing, wealth, food, reputation, and learning. For example, money spent on betting may replace tuition, groceries, and basic necessities.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Gambling can drive away five essentials: clothing, wealth, food, reputation, and learning.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Dress, wealth, food, fame, learning-these five In gambler's hand will never thrive
G.U. Pope Translation
Clothes, wealth, food, praise, and learning, all departFrom him on gambler's gain who sets his heart
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The habit of gambling prevents the attainment of these five: clothing, wealth, food, fame and learning
Tamil commentary
சூதாட்டத்தை விரும்பினால் மரியாதை, கல்வி, செல்வம், உணவு, உடை என்ற ஐந்தும் சேரமாட்டா.
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