Thirukkural 979 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
பெருமை பெருமிதம் இன்மை சிறுமை
பெருமிதம் ஊர்ந்து விடல்.
Transliteration
Perumai Perumidham Inmai Sirumai
Perumidham Oorndhu Vital
Modern English
“Real greatness means having reasons to boast but choosing not to; smallness is boasting without good reason.”
Modern Interpretation
Real greatness means having reasons to boast but choosing not to; smallness is boasting without good reason. For example, a capable volunteer quietly helping others shows more greatness than someone making loud claims about minor favors.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
Real greatness means having reasons to boast but choosing not to; smallness is boasting without good reason.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Greatness is free from insolence Littleness swells with that offence
G.U. Pope Translation
Greatness is absence of conceit; meanness, we deem,Riding on car of vanity supreme
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
Freedom from conceit is (the nature of true) greatness; (while) obstinacy therein is (that of) meanness
Tamil commentary
பெருமைப்பட்டுக் கொள்ளக் காரணங்கள் இருந்தும் செருக்கு இல்லாமல் இருப்பது பெருமை; காரணம் இல்லாமலேயே பெருமைப்பட்டுக் கொள்வது சிறுமை.
Chapter 98
More from Greatness
பெருமை
A heart of courage lives in light Devoid of that one's life is night
Kural 972All beings are the same in birth But work decides their varied worth
Kural 973Ignoble high not high they are The noble low not low they fare
Kural 974Greatness like woman's chastity Is guarded by self-varacity
Kural 975Great souls when their will is active Do mighty deeds rare to achieve
Kural 976The petty-natured ones have not The mind to seek and befriend the great
Kural 977The base with power and opulence Wax with deeds of insolence
Kural 978Greatness bends with modesty Meanness vaunts with vanity
Kural 979Greatness is free from insolence Littleness swells with that offence
Kural 980Weakness of others greatness screens Smallness defects alone proclaims