Thirukkural 967 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒட்டார்பின் சென்றொருவன் வாழ்தலின் அந்நிலையே
கெட்டான் எனப்படுதல் நன்று.
Transliteration
Ottaarpin Sendroruvan Vaazhdhala�n Annilaiye
Kettaan Enappatudhal Nandru
Modern English
“It is better to leave a situation with self-respect than to survive by continually chasing someone who despises you.”
Modern Interpretation
It is better to leave a situation with self-respect than to survive by continually chasing someone who despises you. For example, choosing modest honest work can be better than keeping a lucrative role under a person who deliberately humiliates you.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
It is better to leave a situation with self-respect than to survive by continually chasing someone who despises you.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Better it is to die forlorn Than live as slaves of those who scorn
G.U. Pope Translation
Better 'twere said, 'He's perished!' than to gainThe means to live, following in foeman's train
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
It is better for a man to be said of him that he died in his usual state than that he eked out his life by following those who disgraced him
Tamil commentary
இகழுபவர் பின்னே சென்று அவர் தரும் பொருளை, பதவியைப் பெற்று உயிர்வாழ்வதைக் காட்டிலும் அவன் இறந்துபோனான் என்று சொல்லப்படுவது அவனுக்கு நல்லதாம்.
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