Thirukkural 125 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
எல்லார்க்கும் நன்றாம் பணிதல் அவருள்ளும்
செல்வர்க்கே செல்வம் தகைத்து.
Transliteration
Ellaarkkum Nandraam Panidhal Avarullum
Selvarkke Selvam Thakaiththu
Modern English
“Staying humble is valuable for everyone, but for people who already have wealth or status, it becomes an even greater asset, because it's rarer and more noticed.”
Modern Interpretation
Staying humble is valuable for everyone, but for people who already have wealth or status, it becomes an even greater asset, because it's rarer and more noticed. Humility doesn't erase what you have; it adds to it. For example, a wealthy classmate who doesn't show off a new phone and treats everyone the same earns more genuine respect than one who constantly flaunts it.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Staying humble is valuable for everyone, but for people who already have wealth or status, it becomes an even greater asset, because it's rarer and more noticed.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Humility is good for all To the rich it adds a wealth special
G.U. Pope Translation
To all humility is goodly grace; but chief to themWith fortune blessed, -'tis fortune's diadem
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Humility is good in all; but especially in the rich it is (the excellence of) higher riches
Tamil commentary
செருக்கு இல்லாமல் அடக்கமாக வாழ்வது எல்லார்க்குமே நல்லதுதான்; அவ் எல்லாருள்ளும் செல்வர்களுக்கு அது மேலும் ஒரு செல்வமாக விளங்கும்.
Chapter 13
More from The Possession of Self-restraint
அடக்கம் உடைமை
Self-rule leads to realms of gods Indulgence leads to gloomy hades
Kural 122No gains with self-control measure Guard with care this great treasure
Kural 123Knowing wisdom who lives controlled Name and fame seek him untold
Kural 124Firmly fixed in self serene The sage looks grander than mountain
Kural 125Humility is good for all To the rich it adds a wealth special
Kural 126Who senses five like tortoise hold Their joy prolongs to births sevenfold
Kural 127Rein the tongue if nothing else Or slips of tongue bring all the woes
Kural 128Even a single evil word Will turn all good results to bad
Kural 129The fire-burnt wounds do find a cure Tongue-burnt wound rests a running sore
Kural 130Virtue seeks and peeps to see Self-controlled savant anger free