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Kural 289

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aḷavalla ceytāṅkē vīvar kaḷavalla / maṟṟaiya tēṟṟā tavar

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“Who have no lore save that which fraudful arts supply, / Acts of unmeasured vice committing straightway die.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“Behold the man who meditateth on nothing but theft and plunder: he will leave the right path and perish.”

Modern readingAI draft

Those who understand nothing beyond theft come to ruin the very moment they form thoughts outside the right measure.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

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

அளவு அல்ல செய்தாங்கே வீவர்= அவ்வளவல்லாத தீய நினைவுகளை நினைத்தபொழுதே கெடுவர்; களவு அல்ல மற்றைய தேற்றாதவர்= களவல்லாத பிறவற்றை அறியாதவர்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Those who understand no path other than cunning tricks cross all ethical boundaries in their thoughts, and their moral downfall occurs the very moment those schemes take shape.