Thirukkural · அறத்துப்பால் · தவம்

Thirukkural 262

Kural 262

தவமும் தவமுடையார்க்கு ஆகும் அதனை
அஃதிலார் மேற்கொள் வது.

Thavamum Thavamutaiyaarkku Aakum Adhanai
Aqdhilaar Merkol Vadhu

To 'penitents' sincere avails their 'penitence'; Where that is not, 'tis but a vain pretence

Meaning

Austerities can only be borne, and their benefits enjoyed, by those who have practised them (in a former birth); it will be useless for those who have not done so, to attempt to practise them (now).

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 தவம்

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