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Kural 237

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pukaḻpaṭa vāḻātār tannōvār tammai / yikaḻvārai nōva tevaṉ

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“If you your days will spend devoid of goodly fame, / When men despise, why blame them? You've yourself to blame.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“Those that are not free from blemish chafe not at themselves: why then are they wroth against their calumniators?”

Modern readingAI draft

Why do those who fail to live worthy of praise resent their critics, instead of reproaching their own lack of virtue?

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

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

புகழ்பட வாழாதார்= தமக்குப் புகழுண்டாக வாழ மாட்டாதார்; தம் நோவார்= அதுபற்றிப்பிறர் இகழ்ந்தவழி இவ்விகழ்ச்சி நம்மாட்டாமையான் வந்தது என்று தம்மை நோவாதே; தம்மை இகழ்வாரை நோவது எவன்= தம்மை இகழ்வாரை நோவது என்கருதி.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Why do those who fail to live worthy of praise resent their critics, instead of reproaching their own lack of virtue?