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Kural 116

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keṭuvalyāṉ eṉpatu aṟika taṉneñsam / naṭuvorīi alla seyiṉ

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“If, right deserting, heart to evil turn, / Let man impending ruin's sign discern!”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“When thy heart swerveth from the right and turneth unto evil, know that thy destruction is near at hand.”

Modern readingAI draft

When your heart leaves fairness and turns toward wrong, know that your ruin is near at hand.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

தன் நெஞ்சம் நடுவு ஒரீஇ அல்ல செயின் = ஒருவன் தன் நெஞ்சம் நடுவுநிற்றலை ஒழிந்து நடுவு அல்லவற்றைச் செய்ய நினைக்குமாயின்; யான் கெடுவல் என்பது அறிக = அந்நினைவை யான் கெடக்கடவேன் என்று உணரும் உற்பாதமாக அறிக. (நினைத்தலும் செய்தலோடு ஒக்கும் ஆகலின், செயின் என்றார்.)

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

When your own heart leaves fairness and begins planning what is unjust, take that very thought as the sign that your ruin is near. The first inward swerve is the warning.