Thirukkural 953 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நகைஈகை இன்சொல் இகழாமை நான்கும்
வகையென்ப வாய்மைக் குடிக்கு.
Transliteration
Nakaieekai Insol Ikazhaamai Naankum
Vakaiyenpa Vaaimaik Kutikku
Modern English
“A good person welcomes others, shares what they can, speaks kindly, and avoids insulting people.”
Modern Interpretation
A good person welcomes others, shares what they can, speaks kindly, and avoids insulting people. For example, a student who includes a new classmate and shares their notes shows all four qualities.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
A good person welcomes others, shares what they can, speaks kindly, and avoids insulting people.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Smile, gift, sweet words and courtesy These four mark true nobility
G.U. Pope Translation
The smile, the gift, the pleasant word, unfailing courtesyThese are the signs, they say, of true nobility
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
A cheerful countenance, liberality, pleasant words, and an unreviling disposition, these four are said to be the proper qualities of the truly high-born
Tamil commentary
நல்ல குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தவர்களுக்கு முகமலர்ச்சி, இருப்பதைக் கொடுத்தல், இனிமையாகப் பேசுதல், கேலி பேசாமை என்னும் நான்கும் உரிய குணங்களாம்.
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