Thirukkural 21 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
ஒழுக்கத்து நீத்தார் பெருமை விழுப்பத்து
வேண்டும் பனுவல் துணிவு.
Transliteration
Ozhukkaththu Neeththaar Perumai Vizhuppaththu
Ventum Panuval Thunivu
Modern English
“The highest kind of greatness belongs to people who live by strong principles and are not controlled by selfish desires.”
Modern Interpretation
The highest kind of greatness belongs to people who live by strong principles and are not controlled by selfish desires. They do not need constant praise, wealth, or attention to feel successful. For example, a leader may refuse an unfair advantage even when nobody would discover it. Their self-control and integrity show a level of character that is greater than ordinary success.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
The highest kind of greatness belongs to people who live by strong principles and are not controlled by selfish desires.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
No merit can be held so high As theirs who sense and self deny
G.U. Pope Translation
The settled rule of every code requires, as highest good,Their greatness who, renouncing all, true to their rule have stood
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
The end and aim of all treatise is to extol beyond all other excellence, the greatness of those who, while abiding in the rule of conduct peculiar to their state, have abandoned all desire
Tamil commentary
தமக்குரிய ஒழுக்கத்தில் வாழ்ந்து, ஆசைகளை அறுத்து, உயர்ந்த மேன்மக்களின் பெருமையே, சிறந்தனவற்றுள் சிறந்தது என்று நூல்கள் சொல்கின்றன.
Chapter 3
More from The Greatness of Ascetics
நீத்தார் பெருமை
No merit can be held so high As theirs who sense and self deny
Kural 22To con ascetic glory here Is to count the dead upon the sphere
Kural 23No lustre can with theirs compare Who know the right and virtue wear
Kural 24With hook of firmness to restrain The senses five, is heaven to gain
Kural 25Indra himself has cause to say How great the power ascetics' sway
Kural 26The small the paths of ease pursue The great achieve things rare to do
Kural 27They gain the world, who grasp and tell Of taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell
Kural 28Full-worded men by what they say, Their greatness to the world display
Kural 29Their wrath, who've climb'd the mount of good, Though transient, cannot be withstood
Kural 30With gentle mercy towards all, The sage fulfils the vitue's call