Thirukkural 991 in English

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

Tamil original

எண்பதத்தால் எய்தல் எளிதென்ப யார்மாட்டும்
பண்புடைமை என்னும் வழக்கு.

Transliteration

Enpadhaththaal Eydhal Elidhenpa Yaarmaattum
Panputaimai Ennum Vazhakku

English Translation

“To the polite free of access Easily comes courteousness”

Plain-English meaning

If one is easy of access to all, it will be easy for one to obtain the virtue called goodness

Listen

Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

To the polite free of access Easily comes courteousness

G.U. Pope Translation

Who easy access give to every man, they say,Of kindly courtesy will learn with ease the way

Plain-English Meaning

If one is easy of access to all, it will be easy for one to obtain the virtue called goodness

எவரும் தன்னை எளிதாகக் கண்டு பேசும் நிலையில் வாழ்ந்தால், பண்புடைமை என்னும் நல்வழியை அடைவது எளிது என்று நூலோர் கூறுவர்.

Chapter 100

பண்புடைமை

To the polite free of access Easily comes courteousness

Humanity and noble birth Develop courtesy and moral worth

Likeness in limbs is not likeness It's likeness in kind courteousness

The world applauds those helpful men Whose actions are just and benign

The courteous don't even foes detest For contempt offends even in jest

The world rests with the mannered best Or it crumbles and falls to dust

The mannerless though sharp like file Are like wooden blocks indocile

Discourtesy is mean indeed E'en to a base unfriendly breed

To those bereft of smiling light Even in day the earth is night

The wealth heaped by the churlish base Is pure milk soured by impure vase