The Kural
All chapters › Wealth (பொருட்பால்) › Chapter 93
கள்ளுண்ணாமை
Kurals 921–930 of the Thirukkural, in the book of Wealth (பொருட்பால்).
உட்கப் படாஅர் ஒளியிழப்பர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
கட்காதல் கொண்டொழுகு வார்.
Who love the palm's intoxicating juice, each day,
No rev'rence they command, their glory fades away.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: People always thirsty for drink lose both the respect of others and their good name.
Open in the appஉண்ணற்க கள்ளை உணில்உண்க சான்றோரான்
எண்ணப் படவேண்டா தார்.
Drink not inebriating draught. Let him count well the cost.
Who drinks, by drinking, all good men's esteem is lost.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Don't drink; if you must, leave it to people who don't care what good people think of them.
Open in the appஈன்றாள் முகத்தேயும் இன்னாதால் என்மற்றுச்
சான்றோர் முகத்துக் களி.
The drunkard's joy is sorrow to his mother's eyes;
What must it be in presence of the truly wise?
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Being drunk is shameful even in front of your mother; imagine in front of the wise.
Open in the appநாண்என்னும் நல்லாள் புறங்கொடுக்கும் கள்ளென்னும்
பேணாப் பெருங்குற்றத் தார்க்கு.
Shame, goodly maid, will turn her back for aye on them
Who sin the drunkard's grievous sin, that all condemn.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Self-respect turns its back on people who drink.
Open in the appகையறி யாமை உடைத்தே பொருள்கொடுத்து
மெய்யறி யாமை கொளல்.
With gift of goods who self-oblivion buys,
Is ignorant of all that man should prize.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Paying money to lose your senses shows you don't understand what you're doing.
Open in the appதுஞ்சினார் செத்தாரின் வேறல்லர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
நஞ்சுண்பார் கள்ளுண் பவர்.
Sleepers are as the dead, no otherwise they seem;
Who drink intoxicating draughts, they poison quaff, we deem.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Someone asleep is like someone dead; someone drunk is like someone who drank poison.
Open in the appஉள்ளொற்றி உள்ளூர் நகப்படுவர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
கள்ளொற்றிக் கண்சாய் பவர்
Who turn aside to drink, and droop their heavy eye,
Shall be their townsmen's jest, when they the fault espy.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: People who drink in secret are found out, and the whole town laughs at them.
Open in the appகளித்தறியேன் என்பது கைவிடுக நெஞ்சத்து
ஒளித்ததூஉம் ஆங்கே மிகும்.
No more in secret drink, and then deny thy hidden fraud;
What in thy mind lies hid shall soon be known abroad.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Stop saying "I never drink"; the moment you do, your old cover-up falls apart.
Open in the appகளித்தானைக் காரணம் காட்டுதல் கீழ்நீர்க்
குளித்தானைத் தீத்துரீஇ அற்று.
Like him who, lamp in hand, would seek one sunk beneath the wave.
Is he who strives to sober drunken man with reasonings grave.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Trying to reason with a drunk is like diving underwater with a torch to find someone who drowned.
Open in the appகள்ளுண்ணாப் போழ்திற் களித்தானைக் காணுங்கால்
உள்ளான்கொல் உண்டதன் சோர்வு.
When one, in sober interval, a drunken man espies,
Does he not think, 'Such is my folly in my revelries'?
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: A drinker who sees a drunk while sober should remember what they're like when they drink.
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