Thirukkural 596 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
உள்ளுவ தெல்லாம் உயர்வுள்ளல் மற்றது
தள்ளினுந் தள்ளாமை நீர்த்து.
Transliteration
Ulluva Thellaam Uyarvullal Matradhu
Thallinun Thallaamai Neerththu
Modern English
“Let your aims be worthy and high; even when circumstances stop you, noble ambition still shapes your character and direction.”
Modern Interpretation
Let your aims be worthy and high; even when circumstances stop you, noble ambition still shapes your character and direction. A student who aims to build a useful invention may not finish it, but the goal can guide years of learning.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Let your aims be worthy and high; even when circumstances stop you, noble ambition still shapes your character and direction.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Let thoughts be always great and grand Though they fail their virtues stand
G.U. Pope Translation
Whate'er you ponder, let your aim be loftly still,Fate cannot hinder always, thwart you as it will
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
In all that a king thinks of, let him think of his greatness; and if it should be thrust from him (by fate), it will have the nature of not being thrust from him
Tamil commentary
நினைப்பது எல்லாம் உயர்ந்த நினைப்பாகவே இருக்கட்டும். அவ்வுயர்வான எண்ணம் ஒருவேளை வேறு காரணங்களால் நிறைவேறாது போனாலும், பெரியோர் நம்மைப் பாராட்டுவர். ஆகவே, அது நிறைவேறியதாகவே கருதப்படும்.
Chapter 60
More from Energy
ஊக்கம் உடைமை
To own is to own energy All others own but lethargy
Kural 592Psychic heart is wealth indeed Worldly wealth departs in speed
Kural 593The strong in will do not complain The loss of worldly wealth and gain
Kural 594Fortune enquires, enters with boom Where tireless strivers have their home
Kural 595Water depth is lotus height Mental strength is men's merit
Kural 596Let thoughts be always great and grand Though they fail their virtues stand
Kural 597Elephants are firm when arrows hit Great minds keep fit ev'n in defeat
Kural 598Heartless persons cannot boast \"We are liberal to our best\"
Kural 599Huge elephant sharp in tusk quails When tiger, less in form, assails
Kural 600Mental courage is true manhood Lacking that man is like a wood