Thirukkural 963 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பெருக்கத்து வேண்டும் பணிதல் சிறிய
சுருக்கத்து வேண்டும் உயர்வு.
Transliteration
Perukkaththu Ventum Panidhal Siriya
Surukkaththu Ventum Uyarvu
Modern English
“Success calls for humility, while hardship calls for dignity and self-respect.”
Modern Interpretation
Success calls for humility, while hardship calls for dignity and self-respect. For example, a newly promoted manager should stay approachable, and after losing the job should not surrender to humiliation.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Success calls for humility, while hardship calls for dignity and self-respect.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Be humble in prosperity In decline uphold dignity
G.U. Pope Translation
Bow down thy soul, with increase blest, in happy hour;Lift up thy heart, when stript of all by fortune's power
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
In great prosperity humility is becoming; dignity, in great adversity
Tamil commentary
நல்ல குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து மானம் காக்க எண்ணுவோர் செல்வம் நிறைந்த காலத்தில் பிறரிடம் பணிவுடனும், வறுமை வந்த காலத்தில் தாழ்ந்து விட்டுக் கொடுக்காமலும் நடந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்.
Chapter 97
More from Honour
மானம்
Though needed for your life in main, From mean degrading acts refrain
Kural 962Who seek honour and manly fame Don't do mean deeds even for name
Kural 963Be humble in prosperity In decline uphold dignity
Kural 964Like hair fallen from head are those Who fall down from their high status
Kural 965Even hill-like men will sink to nought With abrus-grain-like small default
Kural 966Why fawn on men that scorn you here It yields no fame, heaven's bliss neither
Kural 967Better it is to die forlorn Than live as slaves of those who scorn
Kural 968Is nursing body nectar sweet Even when one's honour is lost?
Kural 969Honour lost, the noble expire Like a yak that loses its hair
Kural 970Their light the world adores and hails Who will not live when honour fails