Thirukkural 998 in English

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

Tamil original

நண்பாற்றார் ஆகி நயமில செய்வார்க்கும்
பண்பாற்றார் ஆதல் கடை.

Transliteration

Nanpaatraar Aaki Nayamila Seyvaarkkum
Panpaatraar Aadhal Katai

English Translation

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

Plain-English meaning

It is wrong (for the wise) not to exhibit (good) qualities even towards those who bearing no friendship (for them) do only what is hateful

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

G.U. Pope Translation

Though men with all unfriendly acts and wrongs assail,'Tis uttermost disgrace in 'courtesy' to fail

Plain-English Meaning

It is wrong (for the wise) not to exhibit (good) qualities even towards those who bearing no friendship (for them) do only what is hateful

தம்முடன் நட்புச் செய்யாமல் பகைமை கொண்டு தீமையே செய்பவர்க்கும் கூடப் பண்பற்றவராய் வாழ்வது இழுக்கே.

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