Thirukkural-On Virtue-Avoidance of Fraud-Kural-289

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The following translation is an adaptation of K Srinivasan"s:

They who cherish the art of fraud
Will perish by their own actions.

The word 'alavu' has been used by the poet in different contexts in the last four Kurals. I have consistently taken it to mean the 'norms of righteousness" or the 'correct sense of values".

The idea of the Kural, therefore, is that a person who indulges in fraudulent actions would, in due course, destroy himself by doing things in contravention of the code of righteousness.