Internal Enmity
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
uṭpakai yañcittaṟ kākka vulaiviṭattu / maṭpakaiyiṉ māṇat teṟum.
“Of hidden hate beware, and guard thy life; / In troublous time 'twill deeper wound than potter's knife.”
“Guard thyself against the secret enemy: for in the moment of embarrassment he will cut thee clean like the potter’s steel.”
Guard yourself against internal enmity; in a moment of weakness it will destroy unerringly, like the potter’s tool that cuts the clay vessel free.
Ask about this Kural
Answers are drawn only from this Kural's sourced text and named commentary, and always cite what they used.
Choose a section
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உட்பகை அஞ்சித் தற்காக்க= உட்பகை யாயினாரை அஞ்சித் தன்னைக் காத்துக்கொண்டு ஒழுகுக; உலைவிடத்து மட்பகையின் மாணத் தெறும்= அங்ஙனம் ஒழுகாதவழித் தனக்கோர் தளர்ச்சி வந்தவிடத்துக் குயவன் மட்கலத்தை அறுக்கும் கருவிபோல அவர் தப்பாமற் கெடுப்பர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Guard yourself vigilantly against secret internal foes; for in a moment of adversity, they will sever your strength as cleanly and unerringly as a potter's wire slices through wet clay.