Kural 982Chapter 99: Perfectness

Thirukkural 982 in English

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

Tamil original

குணநலம் சான்றோர் நலனே பிறநலம்
எந்நலத்து உள்ளதூஉம் அன்று.

Transliteration

Kunanalam Saandror Nalane Piranalam
Ennalaththu Ulladhooum Andru

Modern English

“For a truly good person, character is the real beauty; appearance and other pleasures are secondary.”

Modern Interpretation

For a truly good person, character is the real beauty; appearance and other pleasures are secondary. For example, when choosing a friend, trustworthiness and kindness matter more than fashionable clothes.

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Modern Plain English

For a truly good person, character is the real beauty; appearance and other pleasures are secondary.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Good in the great is character Than that there is nothing better

G.U. Pope Translation

The good of inward excellence they claim,The perfect men; all other good is only good in name

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

The only delight of the perfect is that of their goodness; all other (sensual) delights are not to be included among any (true) delights

Tamil commentary

சான்றோர் என்பவர்க்கு அழகு, குறங்களால் ஆகிய அழகே; பிற புற அழகெல்லாம் எந்த அழகிலும் சேரா.

Chapter 99

More from Perfectness

சான்றாண்மை

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Kural 981

All goodness is duty to them Who are dutiful and sublime

Kural 982

Good in the great is character Than that there is nothing better

Kural 983

Love, truth, regard, modesty, grace These five are virtue's resting place

Kural 984

Not to kill is penance pure Not to slander virtue sure

Kural 985

Humility is valour's strength A force that averts foes at length

Kural 986

To bear repulse e'en from the mean Is the touch-stone of worthy men

Kural 987

Of perfection what is the gain If it returns not joy for pain?

Kural 988

No shame there is in poverty To one strong in good quality

Kural 989

Aeons may change but not the seer Who is a sea of virtue pure

Kural 990

The world will not more bear its weight If from high virtue fall the great