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
Modern English
“A person’s actions reveal their real character more clearly than their image or words.”
Modern Interpretation
A person’s actions reveal their real character more clearly than their image or words. For example, someone who quietly helps a teammate under pressure shows more than someone who only talks about being kind.
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Modern Plain English
A person’s actions reveal their real character more clearly than their image or words.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
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
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
A man's deeds are the touchstone of his greatness and littleness
Tamil commentary
உயர்ந்த குணத்தையும் சிறுமைக் குணத்தையும் உரசிக்கண்டு அறிவதற்கு ஏற்றக் கட்டளைக்கல் அவரவர் செய்யும் செயல்களே.
Chapter 51
More from Selection and Confidence
தெரிந்து தெளிதல்
Pleasure, gold, fear of life Virtue- Test by these four and trust the true
Kural 502Spotless name of noble birth Shamed of stain-that choice is worth
Kural 503Though deep scholars of stainless sense Rare is freedom from ignorance
Kural 504Good and evil in man weigh well Judge him by virtues which prevail
Kural 505By the touchstone of deeds is seen If any one is great or mean
Kural 506Choose not those men without kinsmen Without affine or shame of sin
Kural 507On favour leaning fools you choose; Folly in all its forms ensues
Kural 508To trust an untried stranger brings Endless troubles on all our kins
Kural 509Trust not without testing and then Find proper work for trusted men
Kural 510Trust without test; The trusted doubt; Both entail troubles in and out