Thirukkural 989 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஊழி பெயரினும் தாம்பெயரார் சான்றாண்மைக்கு
ஆழி எனப்படு வார்.
Transliteration
Oozhi Peyarinum Thaampeyaraar Saandraanmaikku
Aazhi Enappatu Vaar
Modern English
“People of lasting character remain steady even when times, fashions, and pressures change.”
Modern Interpretation
People of lasting character remain steady even when times, fashions, and pressures change. For example, a student who refuses to cheat when everyone else does keeps the same standards under pressure.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People of lasting character remain steady even when times, fashions, and pressures change.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Aeons may change but not the seer Who is a sea of virtue pure
G.U. Pope Translation
Call them of perfect virtue's sea the shore,Who, though the fates should fail, fail not for evermore
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Those who are said to be the shore of the sea of perfection will never change, though ages may change
Tamil commentary
சான்றாண்மை எனப்படும் கடலுக்குக் கரை எனப்படும் சான்றோர், காலம் மாறினாலும் தாம் மாறமாட்டார்.
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