PrepMaticThirukkural · பொருட்பால் · நட்பியல்
கள்ளுண்ணாமை: Not Drinking Palm-Wine
About this chapter
கள்ளுண்ணாமை, not drinking palm-wine (கள்), is a chapter against intoxicating drink. It argues from reputation, shame, family, secrecy and common sense, and not from religious rules.
Kural 921 says that those who love drink lose the respect of others and the light of their fame. Kural 922 advises not to drink, and says that if anyone must, it should be those who do not care for the esteem of the good. Kural 923 says that a drunkard's joy is painful even to his mother, so how much more to the wise. Kural 924 says that shame, the good maid, turns her back on them, and Kural 925 sees the folly of paying money to buy unconsciousness. Kural 926 says that sleepers are no different from the dead, and drinkers no different from those who swallow poison. Kurals 927 and 928 note that secret drinking will be found out by townsmen, and denying it only exposes what one hides. Kural 929 offers the chapter's best image, saying that to reason with a drunk is like searching for a drowned man under water with a lit torch. Kural 930 closes with the thought that a sober person watching a drunk should remember what drink does to himself.
Kural 929 is the one to know, for its image. Kural 923 puts the family cost most plainly.
For the syllabus, it fits universal values and socio-political affairs, as a case against a social evil.
The 10 kurals of கள்ளுண்ணாமை
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
உட்கப் படாஅர் ஒளியிழப்பர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
கட்காதல் கொண்டொழுகு வார்.
Utkap Pataaar Oliyizhappar Egngnaandrum
Katkaadhal Kontozhuku Vaar
Who love the palm's intoxicating juice, each day, No rev'rence they command, their glory fades away
உண்ணற்க கள்ளை உணில்உண்க சான்றோரான்
எண்ணப் படவேண்டா தார்.
Unnarka Kallai Unilunka Saandroraan
Ennap Pataventaa Thaar
Drink not inebriating draught Let him count well the costWho drinks, by drinking, all good men's esteem is lost
ஈன்றாள் முகத்தேயும் இன்னாதால் என்மற்றுச்
சான்றோர் முகத்துக் களி.
Eendraal Mukaththeyum Innaadhaal Enmatruch
Chaandror Mukaththuk Kali
The drunkard's joy is sorrow to his mother's eyes; What must it be in presence of the truly wise
நாண்என்னும் நல்லாள் புறங்கொடுக்கும் கள்ளென்னும்
பேணாப் பெருங்குற்றத் தார்க்கு.
Naanennum Nallaal Purangotukkum Kallennum
Penaap Perungutrath Thaarkku
Shame, goodly maid, will turn her back for aye on themWho sin the drunkard's grievous sin, that all condemn
கையறி யாமை உடைத்தே பொருள்கொடுத்து
மெய்யறி யாமை கொளல்.
Kaiyari Yaamai Utaiththe Porulkotuththu
Meyyari Yaamai Kolal
With gift of goods who self-oblivion buys, Is ignorant of all that man should prize
துஞ்சினார் செத்தாரின் வேறல்லர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
நஞ்சுண்பார் கள்ளுண் பவர்.
Thunjinaar Seththaarin Verallar Egngnaandrum
Nanjunpaar Kallun Pavar
Sleepers are as the dead, no otherwise they seem; Who drink intoxicating draughts, they poison quaff, we deem
உள்ளொற்றி உள்ளூர் நகப்படுவர் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
கள்ளொற்றிக் கண்சாய் பவர்
Ullotri Ulloor Nakappatuvar Egngnaandrum
Kallotrik Kansaai Pavar
Who turn aside to drink, and droop their heavy eye, Shall be their townsmen's jest, when they the fault espy
களித்தறியேன் என்பது கைவிடுக நெஞ்சத்து
ஒளித்ததூஉம் ஆங்கே மிகும்.
Kaliththariyen Enpadhu Kaivituka Nenjaththu
Oliththadhooum Aange Mikum
No more in secret drink, and then deny thy hidden fraud; What in thy mind lies hid shall soon be known abroad
களித்தானைக் காரணம் காட்டுதல் கீழ்நீர்க்
குளித்தானைத் தீத்துரீஇ அற்று.
Kaliththaanaik Kaaranam Kaattudhal Keezhneerk
Kuliththaanaith Theeththureei Atru
Like him who, lamp in hand, would seek one sunk beneath the waveIs he who strives to sober drunken man with reasonings grave
கள்ளுண்ணாப் போழ்திற் களித்தானைக் காணுங்கால்
உள்ளான்கொல் உண்டதன் சோர்வு.
Kallunnaap Pozhdhir Kaliththaanaik Kaanungaal
Ullaankol Untadhan Sorvu
When one, in sober interval, a drunken man espies, Does he not think, 'Such is my folly in my revelries'
How Thirukkural is asked in TNPSC exams
Find your weak TNPSC units before the exam does
Take a free TNPSC assessment on PrepMatic. It shows where you stand across General Tamil, General Studies and Aptitude, then builds a day-by-day study plan and mock tests focused on your weak subjects.
Start free assessment →Free forever plan · No credit card · 2-minute setup