Thirukkural 26 in English

Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.

Tamil original

செயற்கரிய செய்வார் பெரியர் சிறியர்
செயற்கரிய செய்கலா தார்.

Transliteration

Seyarkariya Seyvaar Periyar Siriyar
Seyarkariya Seykalaa Thaar

English Translation

“The small the paths of ease pursue The great achieve things rare to do”

Plain-English meaning

The great will do those things which is difficult to be done; but the mean cannot do them

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Tamil pronunciation

Speed

English Translation

The small the paths of ease pursue The great achieve things rare to do

G.U. Pope Translation

Things hard in the doing will great men do;Things hard in the doing the mean eschew

Plain-English Meaning

The great will do those things which is difficult to be done; but the mean cannot do them

பிறர் செய்வதற்கு முடியாத செயல்களைச் செய்பவரே மேன்மக்கள்; செய்ய முடியாதவரோ சிறியவரே.

Chapter 3

நீத்தார் பெருமை

No merit can be held so high As theirs who sense and self deny

To con ascetic glory here Is to count the dead upon the sphere

No lustre can with theirs compare Who know the right and virtue wear

With hook of firmness to restrain The senses five, is heaven to gain

Indra himself has cause to say How great the power ascetics' sway

The small the paths of ease pursue The great achieve things rare to do

They gain the world, who grasp and tell Of taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell

Full-worded men by what they say, Their greatness to the world display

Their wrath, who've climb'd the mount of good, Though transient, cannot be withstood

With gentle mercy towards all, The sage fulfils the vitue's call