Thirukkural 994 in English

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

Tamil original

நயனொடு நன்றி புரிந்த பயனுடையார்
பண்புபா ராட்டும் உலகு.

Transliteration

Nayanotu Nandri Purindha Payanutaiyaar
Panpupaa Raattum Ulaku

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

The world applauds the character of those whose usefulness results from their equity and charity

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Of men of fruitful life, who kindly benefits dispense,The world unites to praise the 'noble excellence.'

Plain-English Meaning

The world applauds the character of those whose usefulness results from their equity and charity

நீதியையும் அறத்தையும் விரும்பிப் பிறர்க்கும் பயன்படுபவரின் பண்பினை உலகத்தவர் சிறப்பித்துப் பேசுவர்.

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