Thirukkural 984 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
கொல்லா நலத்தது நோன்மை பிறர்தீமை
சொல்லா நலத்தது சால்பு.
Transliteration
Kollaa Nalaththadhu Nonmai Pirardheemai
Sollaa Nalaththadhu Saalpu
Modern English
“Self-discipline is grounded in refusing to harm living beings, and true goodness includes not spreading other people's faults.”
Modern Interpretation
Self-discipline is grounded in refusing to harm living beings, and true goodness includes not spreading other people's faults. For example, a mature person avoids retaliation and does not forward a private mistake as gossip.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Self-discipline is grounded in refusing to harm living beings, and true goodness includes not spreading other people's faults.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Not to kill is penance pure Not to slander virtue sure
G.U. Pope Translation
The type of 'penitence' is virtuous good that nothing slays;To speak no ill of other men is perfect virtue's praise
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Penance consists in the goodness that kills not , and perfection in the goodness that tells not others' faults
Tamil commentary
பிற உயிர்களைக் கொல்லாதிருப்பது தனத்திற்கு அழகு; பிறர் குறைகளைப் பேசாதிருப்பது சான்றாண்மைக்கு அழகு.
Chapter 99
More from Perfectness
சான்றாண்மை
All goodness is duty to them Who are dutiful and sublime
Kural 982Good in the great is character Than that there is nothing better
Kural 983Love, truth, regard, modesty, grace These five are virtue's resting place
Kural 984Not to kill is penance pure Not to slander virtue sure
Kural 985Humility is valour's strength A force that averts foes at length
Kural 986To bear repulse e'en from the mean Is the touch-stone of worthy men
Kural 987Of perfection what is the gain If it returns not joy for pain?
Kural 988No shame there is in poverty To one strong in good quality
Kural 989Aeons may change but not the seer Who is a sea of virtue pure
Kural 990The world will not more bear its weight If from high virtue fall the great