KURAL 62

எழுபிறப்பும் தீயவை தீண்டா பழிபிறங்காப் 

பண்புடை மக்கட் பெறின்.

A man's children who are blemish-less and cultured 

safeguard his family reputation for generations.

KURAL 305

தன்னைத்தான் காக்கின் சினங்காக்க காவாக்கால் 

தன்னையே கொல்லும் சினம்.

If you would protect yourself, guard against your own anger;

For  anger not controlled would lead  to self destruction.

KURAL 309

உள்ளிய தெல்லாம் உடனெய்தும் உள்ளத்தால் 

உள்ளான் வெகுளி எனின்.

To an ascetic, who does not even think angry thoughts,

every constructive thought will result in instant success.

KURAL 866

காணாச் சினத்தான் கழிபெருங் காமத்தான் 

பேணாமை பேணப் படும்.

A person with blinding anger and unbounded lust,

It is best if he is not anyone's friend.

KURAL 620

ஊழையும் உப்பக்கம் காண்பர் உலைவின்றித் 

தாழாது உஞ்ற்று பவர்.

People, who work hard with ceaseless perseverance,

Will overcome even relentless fate.

KURAL 611

அருமை உடைத்தென்று அசாவாமை வேண்டும் 

பெருமை முயற்சி தரும்.

No manly personality will be put off by the apparently mighty dimensions of the job facing him;

Planned and persistent efforts will surely lead to success.

"Let not the magnitude of any task unman you,

Strenuous effort ever brings victory"

                                            - Rajaji 

KURAL 950

உற்றவன் தீர்ப்பான் மருந்துழைச் செல்வானென்று 

அப்பால்நாற் கூற்றே மருந்து.

The patient, the physician, the remedy and the attendant are the four elements

That go to make up effective medical treatment.

KURAL 1128

நெஞ்சத்தார் காத லவராக வெய்துண்டல் 

அஞ்சுதும் வேபாக்கு அறிந்து.

As my beloved is ever in my heart,I fear to eat hot food,

Lest it burn him in there.

KURAL 650

இணரூழ்த்தும் நாறா மலரனையர் கற்றது 

உணர விரித்துரையா தார்.

Those who cannot express their thoughts acquired, after deep study

are like a bunch of flowers without fragrance.

Any amount of learning, without the concomitant power of expression, serves no purpose as far as the world is concerned.

KURAL 128

ஒன்றானும் தீச்சொல் பொருட்பயன் உண்டாயின் 

நன்றாகா தாகி விடும்.

ondraanum theechol porutpayan undaayin

nandraaga thaagi vidum

Just one harsh word and its resultant evil, is enough

to damage all the intended good of one's speech.

KURAL 114

தக்கார் தகவிலர் என்பது அவரவர் 

எச்சத்தாற் காணப் படும் .

Thakkar thagavilar enbathu avaravar

echathaar kaanap padum

The just and unjust come to be known,

By the reputation they leave behind.

KURAL 781

செயற்கரிய  யாவுள நட்பின் அதுபோல் 

 வினைக்கரிய யாவுள காப்பு 

EXPLANATION:

There is nothing more for a man to gain than a good friend. And there is no better protection for a man than his friend.

KURAL 203

அறிவினுள் எல்லாந் தலையென்ப தீய 

செறுவார்க்கும் செய்யா விடல்.

Arivinul ellaan thalaiyenba theeya

seruvaarkkum seiyaa vidal.

The best and most presious of all knowledge,

Is not to return evil for evil.

KURAL 64

அமிழ்தினும்  ஆற்ற  இனிதேதம்  மக்கள் 

சிறுகை  அளாவிய கூழ் .

Amizhthinum aatra inithaetham makkal

sirukai allaviya kool

A parent's food is made sweeter than nectar, when his child

has toyed with it, dipping his little fingers.

KURAL 16

visumbin thulliveezhin allalmatr traange

pasumpul thalaikaanba tharidu

split: visumbin thuli veezhin allal matru aange

pasum pul thalai kaanbu arithu

If clouds do not shed drops of rain,

even blades of grass cannot shoot up.

The blades of grass are one of the lowest forms of plant life, even they cant sustain unless the rains fall.

KURAL 15

Keduppathooung kettarkuch chaarvaaimatr trange

eduppathooum ellam mazhai

Split: koduppaduvum kettarkuch chaarvai matru aange

eduppathuvum, ellam mazhai

Want of rain spells ruin; suffeciency of it in turn ,

will lead to renewed prosperity.

It is the absence of rain that ruins and rain again that aids the ruined land to rise.

KURAL 14

Yerin uzhaar uzhavar puyalennum

vaari vallangundrik kaal

Split: yerin uzhaar uzhavar puyal ennum

vaari vallam kundrikkaal

If there is diminution in the bounty of rain,

the farmer will be forced into idleness.

The meaning is obvious. If drought sets in, all agricultural operations will come to a grinding halt

KURAL 13

vinindru poippin virineer viyanulagathu

ullnindru udatrum pasi.

Split; vin indru poippin virineer viyan ulagathu

ul nindru udatrum pasi

If the rains fail, hunger will cause infinite misery to the world, 

even though it is surrounded by the wide oceans.

KURAL 12

thupparkuth thuppaya thuppakkith thupparkuth

thuppaya thooum mazhai

Split: thupparkkuth thuppu aaya thuppu aakith thupparkuth

thuppu aayathooum mazhai

All food is produced because of rain,

which itself is food again.

It is rain that raises food for all and it also serves as food by itself.

IN PRAISE OF RAIN KURAL 11

vaanindru ulagam vazhangi varudhalal

thaanamizhtham yendrunarar paatru

Split: vaan nindru ulagam vazhangi varuthalan

thaan amizhtham endru unaral patru

As the falling rain sustains the world,

it must be deemed the nectar of life.

It is the heaven's unfailing gift of rain which keeps the earth going and for that very reason it can be considered as the (amrutha) nectar of life.

KURAL 10

piravip perungkadal neenthuvar; neenthaar

iravanadi saeraa thaar

Split: piravip perung kadal neenthuvar neenthaar

iraivan adi saeraathaar

Those who contemplate the lord's feet will cross 

the sea of birth, others will not.

Only those who contemplate the feet of God and find haven there will be able to traverse the endless cycles of birth, death and rebirth.

KURAL 9

kollil poriyial gunamilavey, yenngunaththan

thaallai vanangath thalai

Split: koll il poriyin gunam ilavey yengunathaan

thaalai vanangaath thalai

The head that does not bow before the Lord of eight attributes,

in prayer, is like a body with all its senses defunct.

KURAL 593

aakam ilanthemendru allaavaar ookam

oruvantham kaithudai yaar

Split: aakam ilanthem endru allavaar ookam

oruvantham kaithu udayaar 

men with firm grip on unremitting energy and zeal,

will never despair, if they lose their wealth. 

People with a powerful will and systematic diligence will not give in to the cry of despair, moaning that "they have been ruined" when they find that they have lost some of their earthly possessions.