Kural 431Chapter 44: The Correction of Faults

Thirukkural 431 in English

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

Tamil original

செருக்குஞ் சினமும் சிறுமையும் இல்லார்
பெருக்கம் பெருமித நீர்த்து.

Transliteration

Serukkunj Chinamum Sirumaiyum Illaar
Perukkam Perumidha Neerththu

Modern English

“A leader becomes truly great by keeping pride, anger, and degrading desires under control.”

Modern Interpretation

A leader becomes truly great by keeping pride, anger, and degrading desires under control. For example, a manager who accepts criticism calmly earns more respect than one who uses power to intimidate people.

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Tamil pronunciation

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Modern Plain English

A leader becomes truly great by keeping pride, anger, and degrading desires under control.

Poetic Couplet (Bharati)

Plenty is their prosperity Who're free from wrath pride lust petty

G.U. Pope Translation

Who arrogance, and wrath, and littleness of low desire restrain,To sure increase of lofty dignity attain

Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)

Truly great is the excellence of those (kings) who are free from pride, anger, and lust

Tamil commentary

தான் என்னும் அகங்காரம், கோபம், பெண்ணாசை என்னும் சிறுமை இவை இல்லாத ஆட்சியாளர்களின் செல்வம் மேன்மையானது.

Chapter 44

More from The Correction of Faults

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Kural 431

Plenty is their prosperity Who're free from wrath pride lust petty

Kural 432

Mean pride, low pleasure, avarice These add blemishes to a prince

Kural 433

Though millet-small their faults might seem Men fearing disgrace, Palm-tall deem

Kural 434

Watch like treasure freedom from fault Our fatal foe is that default

Kural 435

Who fails to guard himself from flaw Loses his life like flame-lit straw

Kural 436

What fault can be the king's who cures First his faults, then scans others

Kural 437

That miser's wealth shall waste and end Who would not for a good cause spend

Kural 438

The gripping greed of miser's heart Is more than fault the worst apart

Kural 439

Never boast yourself in any mood Nor do a deed that does no good

Kural 440

All designs of the foes shall fail If one his wishes guards in veil