Thirukkural 999 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நகல்வல்லர் அல்லார்க்கு மாயிரு ஞாலம்
பகலும்பாற் பட்டன்று இருள்.
Transliteration
Nakalvallar Allaarkku Maayiru Gnaalam
Pakalumpaar Pattandru Irul
Modern English
“People who cannot share joy or connect with others may feel that the whole world is dark, even in good times.”
Modern Interpretation
People who cannot share joy or connect with others may feel that the whole world is dark, even in good times. For example, an isolated student may begin to feel better after joining a welcoming club and making friends.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
People who cannot share joy or connect with others may feel that the whole world is dark, even in good times.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
To those bereft of smiling light Even in day the earth is night
G.U. Pope Translation
To him who knows not how to smile in kindly mirth,Darkness in daytime broods o'er all the vast and mighty earth
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
To those who cannot rejoice, the wide world is buried darkness even in (broad) day light
Tamil commentary
நல்ல பண்பு இல்லாததால் மற்றவர்களுடன் கலந்து பேசி மனம் மகிழும் இயல்பு இல்லாதவர்க்கு, இந்தப் பெரிய உலகம் இருள் இல்லாத பகல் பொழுதிலும் கூட இருளிலே இருப்பது போலவாம்.
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