Thirukkural · அறத்துப்பால் · தீவினையச்சம்

Thirukkural 208

Chapter 21: தீவினையச்சம் (Dread of Evil Deeds) · Virtue

Kural 208

தீயவை செய்தார் கெடுதல் நிழல்தன்னை
வீயாது அஇஉறைந் தற்று.

Theeyavai Seydhaar Ketudhal Nizhaldhannai
Veeyaadhu Atiurain Thatru

Man's shadow dogs his steps where'er he wends; Destruction thus on sinful deeds attends

Meaning

Destruction will dwell at the heels of those who commit evil even as their shadow that leaves them not.

Plain English meaning from the 19th-century prose translation by W. H. Drew and John Lazarus. The verse above is G. U. Pope's translation (1886).

Other kurals in தீவினையச்சம்

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