Thirukkural 996 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பண்புடையார்ப் பட்டுண்டு உலகம் அதுஇன்றேல்
மண்புக்கு மாய்வது மன்.
Transliteration
Panputaiyaarp Pattuntu Ulakam Adhuindrel
Manpukku Maaivadhu Man
Modern English
“Everyday life depends on people who practice decency and trustworthiness.”
Modern Interpretation
Everyday life depends on people who practice decency and trustworthiness. For example, honest teachers, shopkeepers, and neighbors make a community work; without them, suspicion would replace cooperation.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Everyday life depends on people who practice decency and trustworthiness.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The world rests with the mannered best Or it crumbles and falls to dust
G.U. Pope Translation
The world abides; for 'worthy' men its weight sustainWere it not so, 'twould fall to dust again
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The (way of the) world subsists by contact with the good; if not, it would bury itself in the earth and perish
Tamil commentary
பண்புடையவர்கள் வாழ்வதால்தான் மக்கள் வாழ்க்கை எப்போதும் நிலைத்து இருக்கிறது. அவர்கள் மட்டும் வாழாது போவார் என்றால். மனித வாழ்க்கை மண்ணுக்குள் புகுந்து மடிந்து போகும்.
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