பிறர்க்குத் தீமை செய்தவர் அழிவது, அவரை அவரது நிழல் விடாது கால்களின் கீழே தங்கியிருப்பது போலாம்.

ஒருவருடைய நிழல் அவருடனேயே ஒன்றியிருப்பதைப்போல், தீய செயல்களில் ஈடுபடுகிறவர்களை விட்டுத் தீமையும் விலகாமல், தொடர்ந்து ஒட்டிக் கொண்டிருக்கும்

தீய செயல்களைச் செய்தவர் கேட்டை அடைதல், ஒருவனுடைய நிழல் அவனை விடாமல் வந்து அடியில் தங்கியிருத்தலைப் போன்றது.

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

Kural 208 draws a vivid analogy between a person's shadow and the inevitable consequences of their wrongdoings. Just as a shadow is inseparable from the person, regardless of their actions or movements, the aftermath of their misdeeds is similarly unescapable. The verse warns that those who engage in harmful or evil actions will inevitably face the repercussions of their actions. This is akin to their own shadow, which never leaves them. No matter where they go or what they do, their shadow remains attached to them, just as the consequences of their actions are always close behind, ready to catch up with them when they least expect it. This verse underscores the principle of karma, a universal law of cause and effect, which is a core belief in many Eastern philosophies. It emphasizes the moral responsibility of every individual for their actions and the inevitable retribution they will face for their misdeeds. In essence, Thiruvalluvar advises us to lead a virtuous life, refraining from harmful actions, as the repercussions of such actions are as constant and unavoidable as our own shadow.