Thirukkural 962 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
சீரினும் சீரல்ல செய்யாரே சீரொடு
பேராண்மை வேண்டு பவர்.
Transliteration
Seerinum Seeralla Seyyaare Seerotu
Peraanmai Ventu Pavar
Modern English
“People who want lasting respect will not commit a dishonorable act merely to win attention or fame.”
Modern Interpretation
People who want lasting respect will not commit a dishonorable act merely to win attention or fame. For example, an athlete who refuses performance-enhancing drugs protects both the achievement and the honor behind it.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who want lasting respect will not commit a dishonorable act merely to win attention or fame.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Who seek honour and manly fame Don't do mean deeds even for name
G.U. Pope Translation
Who seek with glory to combine honour's untarnished fame,Do no inglorious deeds, though men accord them glory's name
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those who desire (to maintain their) honour, will surely do nothing dishonourable, even for the sake of fame
Tamil commentary
புகழுடன் தன் குடும்பப் பெருமையை நிலைநாட்ட விரும்புபவர் புகழுக்குரியவற்றைச் செய்யும்போதும் தம் குடும்பப் பெருமைக்கு ஏற்காத இழிவுகளைச் செய்யமாட்டார்.
Chapter 97
More from Honour
மானம்
Though needed for your life in main, From mean degrading acts refrain
Kural 962Who seek honour and manly fame Don't do mean deeds even for name
Kural 963Be humble in prosperity In decline uphold dignity
Kural 964Like hair fallen from head are those Who fall down from their high status
Kural 965Even hill-like men will sink to nought With abrus-grain-like small default
Kural 966Why fawn on men that scorn you here It yields no fame, heaven's bliss neither
Kural 967Better it is to die forlorn Than live as slaves of those who scorn
Kural 968Is nursing body nectar sweet Even when one's honour is lost?
Kural 969Honour lost, the noble expire Like a yak that loses its hair
Kural 970Their light the world adores and hails Who will not live when honour fails