Thirukkural 965 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

குன்றின் அனையாரும் குன்றுவர் குன்றுவ
குன்றி அனைய செயின்.

Transliteration

Kundrin Anaiyaarum Kundruvar Kundruva
Kundri Anaiya Seyin

English Translation

“Even hill-like men will sink to nought With abrus-grain-like small default”

Plain-English meaning

Even those who are exalted like a hill will be thought low, if they commit deeds that are debasing

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

Even hill-like men will sink to nought With abrus-grain-like small default

G.U. Pope Translation

If meanness, slight as 'abrus' grain, by men be wrought,Though like a hill their high estate, they sink to nought

Plain-English Meaning

Even those who are exalted like a hill will be thought low, if they commit deeds that are debasing

நல்ல குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து மலைபோல உயர்ந்தவரும்கூட தாழ்வானவற்றை ஒரு குன்றிமணி அளவு செய்தாலும் தாழ்ந்து போவார்.

Chapter 97

மானம்

Though needed for your life in main, From mean degrading acts refrain

Who seek honour and manly fame Don't do mean deeds even for name

Be humble in prosperity In decline uphold dignity

Like hair fallen from head are those Who fall down from their high status

Even hill-like men will sink to nought With abrus-grain-like small default

Why fawn on men that scorn you here It yields no fame, heaven's bliss neither

Better it is to die forlorn Than live as slaves of those who scorn

Is nursing body nectar sweet Even when one's honour is lost?

Honour lost, the noble expire Like a yak that loses its hair

Their light the world adores and hails Who will not live when honour fails