Thirukkural 959 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
நிலத்தில் கிடந்தமை கால்காட்டும் காட்டும்
குலத்தில் பிறந்தார்வாய்ச் சொல்.
Transliteration
Nilaththil Kitandhamai Kaalkaattum Kaattum
Kulaththil Pirandhaarvaaich Chol
Modern English
“A person's words often reveal their upbringing just as a crop reveals its soil.”
Modern Interpretation
A person's words often reveal their upbringing just as a crop reveals its soil. For example, the way an applicant speaks to everyone during an interview can show whether they have learned respect.
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Modern Plain English
A person's words often reveal their upbringing just as a crop reveals its soil.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Soil's nature is seen in sprout The worth of birth from words flow out
G.U. Pope Translation
Of soil the plants that spring thereout will show the worth:The words they speak declare the men of noble birth
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
As the sprout indicates the nature of the soil, (so) the speech of the noble indicates (that of one's birth)
Tamil commentary
நிலத்தின் இயல்பை அதில் விளைந்த பயிர்காட்டும்; அதுபோலக் குடும்பத்தின் இயல்பை அதில் பிறந்தவர் பேசும் சொல் காட்டும்.
Chapter 96
More from Nobility
குடிமை
Right-sense and bashfulness adorn By nature only the noble-born
Kural 952The noble-born lack not these three: Good conduct, truth and modesty
Kural 953Smile, gift, sweet words and courtesy These four mark true nobility
Kural 954Even for crores, the noble mood Cannot bend to degrading deed
Kural 955The means of gift may dwindle; yet Ancient homes guard their noble trait
Kural 956Who guard their family prestige pure Stoop not to acts of cunning lure
Kural 957The faults of nobly-born are seen Like on the sky the spots of moon
Kural 958If manners of the good are rude People deem their pedigree crude
Kural 959Soil's nature is seen in sprout The worth of birth from words flow out
Kural 960All gain good name by modesty Nobility by humility