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Kural 240

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vacaiyoḻiya vāḻvārē vāḻvār icaiyoḻiya / vāḻvārē vāḻā tavar

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“Who live without reproach, them living men we deem; / Who live without renown, live not, though living men they seem.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“They alone live who live without blemish: and they alone die who have lived without glory.”

Modern readingAI draft

Those who live without reproach and adorned with renown are truly alive; those who live without worthy praise, though breathing, are not alive at all.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

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

வசை ஒழிய வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார்= தம்மாட்டு வசை உண்டாகாமல் வாழ்வாரே உயிர் வாழ்வாராவார்; இசை ஒழிய வாழ்வாரே வாழாதவர்= புகழ் உண்டாகாமல் வாழ்வாரே இறந்தவர் ஆவர்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Those who live without reproach and adorned with renown are truly alive; those who live without worthy praise, though breathing, are not alive at all.