Thirukkural 951 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
இற்பிறந்தார் கண்அல்லது இல்லை இயல்பாகச்
செப்பமும் நாணும் ஒருங்கு.
Transliteration
Irpirandhaar Kanalladhu Illai Iyalpaakach
Cheppamum Naanum Orungu
Modern English
“A truly honorable upbringing shows in consistency, honesty, and modest restraint—not merely in a family name.”
Modern Interpretation
A truly honorable upbringing shows in consistency, honesty, and modest restraint—not merely in a family name. For example, a student who admits a mistake instead of changing their story shows this steady character.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A truly honorable upbringing shows in consistency, honesty, and modest restraint—not merely in a family name.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Right-sense and bashfulness adorn By nature only the noble-born
G.U. Pope Translation
Save in the scions of a noble house, you never findInstinctive sense of right and virtuous shame combined
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Consistency (of thought, word and deed) and fear (of sin) are conjointly natural only to the high-born
Tamil commentary
சிறந்த குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவரிடம் மனம், சொல், செயல் மூன்றின் சுத்தமும், நாணமும் இயல்பாக இருப்பது போல் மற்றவரிடம் இருக்கமாட்டா.
Chapter 96
More from Nobility
குடிமை
Right-sense and bashfulness adorn By nature only the noble-born
Kural 952The noble-born lack not these three: Good conduct, truth and modesty
Kural 953Smile, gift, sweet words and courtesy These four mark true nobility
Kural 954Even for crores, the noble mood Cannot bend to degrading deed
Kural 955The means of gift may dwindle; yet Ancient homes guard their noble trait
Kural 956Who guard their family prestige pure Stoop not to acts of cunning lure
Kural 957The faults of nobly-born are seen Like on the sky the spots of moon
Kural 958If manners of the good are rude People deem their pedigree crude
Kural 959Soil's nature is seen in sprout The worth of birth from words flow out
Kural 960All gain good name by modesty Nobility by humility