Thirukkural 505 in English

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

Tamil original

பெருமைக்கும் ஏனைச் சிறுமைக்கும் தத்தம்
கருமமே கட்டளைக் கல்.

Transliteration

Perumaikkum Enaich Chirumaikkum Thaththam
Karumame Kattalaik Kal

English Translation

“By the touchstone of deeds is seen If any one is great or mean”

Plain-English meaning

A man's deeds are the touchstone of his greatness and littleness

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

By the touchstone of deeds is seen If any one is great or mean

G.U. Pope Translation

Of greatness and of meanness too,The deeds of each are touchstone true

Plain-English Meaning

A man's deeds are the touchstone of his greatness and littleness

உயர்ந்த குணத்தையும் சிறுமைக் குணத்தையும் உரசிக்கண்டு அறிவதற்கு ஏற்றக் கட்டளைக்கல் அவரவர் செய்யும் செயல்களே.

Chapter 51

தெரிந்து தெளிதல்

Pleasure, gold, fear of life Virtue- Test by these four and trust the true

Spotless name of noble birth Shamed of stain-that choice is worth

Though deep scholars of stainless sense Rare is freedom from ignorance

Good and evil in man weigh well Judge him by virtues which prevail

By the touchstone of deeds is seen If any one is great or mean

Choose not those men without kinsmen Without affine or shame of sin

On favour leaning fools you choose; Folly in all its forms ensues

To trust an untried stranger brings Endless troubles on all our kins

Trust not without testing and then Find proper work for trusted men

Trust without test; The trusted doubt; Both entail troubles in and out