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
Modern English
“The world praises people whose fairness and generosity make them genuinely useful to others.”
Modern Interpretation
The world praises people whose fairness and generosity make them genuinely useful to others. For example, a neighbor who organizes a fair food drive earns respect because their actions help the whole community.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The world praises people whose fairness and generosity make them genuinely useful to others.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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.'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The world applauds the character of those whose usefulness results from their equity and charity
Tamil commentary
நீதியையும் அறத்தையும் விரும்பிப் பிறர்க்கும் பயன்படுபவரின் பண்பினை உலகத்தவர் சிறப்பித்துப் பேசுவர்.
Chapter 100
More from Courtesy
பண்புடைமை
To the polite free of access Easily comes courteousness
Kural 992Humanity and noble birth Develop courtesy and moral worth
Kural 993Likeness in limbs is not likeness It's likeness in kind courteousness
Kural 994The world applauds those helpful men Whose actions are just and benign
Kural 995The courteous don't even foes detest For contempt offends even in jest
Kural 996The world rests with the mannered best Or it crumbles and falls to dust
Kural 997The mannerless though sharp like file Are like wooden blocks indocile
Kural 998Discourtesy is mean indeed E'en to a base unfriendly breed
Kural 999To those bereft of smiling light Even in day the earth is night
Kural 1000The wealth heaped by the churlish base Is pure milk soured by impure vase