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

English Translation

“Greatness is free from insolence Littleness swells with that offence”

Plain-English meaning

Freedom from conceit is (the nature of true) greatness; (while) obstinacy therein is (that of) meanness

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Tamil pronunciation

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English Translation

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

Plain-English Meaning

Freedom from conceit is (the nature of true) greatness; (while) obstinacy therein is (that of) meanness

பெருமைப்பட்டுக் கொள்ளக் காரணங்கள் இருந்தும் செருக்கு இல்லாமல் இருப்பது பெருமை; காரணம் இல்லா‌மலேயே பெருமைப்பட்டுக் கொள்வது சிறுமை.

Chapter 98

பெருமை

A heart of courage lives in light Devoid of that one's life is night

All beings are the same in birth But work decides their varied worth

Ignoble high not high they are The noble low not low they fare

Greatness like woman's chastity Is guarded by self-varacity

Great souls when their will is active Do mighty deeds rare to achieve

The petty-natured ones have not The mind to seek and befriend the great

The base with power and opulence Wax with deeds of insolence

Greatness bends with modesty Meanness vaunts with vanity

Greatness is free from insolence Littleness swells with that offence

Weakness of others greatness screens Smallness defects alone proclaims