The Kural
All chapters › Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) › Chapter 3
நீத்தார் பெருமை
Kurals 21–30 of the Thirukkural, in the book of Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்).
ஒழுக்கத்து நீத்தார் பெருமை விழுப்பத்து
வேண்டும் பனுவல் துணிவு.
The settled rule of every code requires, as highest good,
Their greatness who, renouncing all, true to their rule have stood.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: The greatest books all agree: nothing is greater than people who live by their principles and let go of desire.
Open in the appதுறந்தார் பெருமை துணைக்கூறின் வையத்து
இறந்தாரை எண்ணிக்கொண் டற்று.
As counting those that from the earth have passed away,
'Tis vain attempt the might of holy men to say.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Trying to measure the greatness of those who gave up desire is like counting everyone who has ever died.
Open in the appஇருமை வகைதெரிந்து ஈண்டுஅறம் பூண்டார்
பெருமை பிறங்கிற்று உலகு.
Their greatness earth transcends, who, way of both worlds weighed,
In this world take their stand, in virtue's robe arrayed.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Those who weigh both worlds and choose to let go shine above everyone else.
Open in the appஉரனென்னும் தோட்டியான் ஓரைந்தும் காப்பான்
வரனென்னும் வைப்பிற்கோர் வித்து.
He, who with firmness, curb the five restrains,
Is seed for soil of yonder happy plains.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Steer your five senses with wisdom, and you plant the seed of a higher life.
Open in the appஐந்தவித்தான் ஆற்றல் அகல்விசும்பு ளார்கோமான்
இந்திரனே சாலுங் கரி.
Their might who have destroyed 'the five', shall soothly tell
Indra, the lord of those in heaven's wide realms that dwell.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Even the king of the gods is proof of how strong a person who masters their senses can be.
Open in the appசெயற்கரிய செய்வார் பெரியர் சிறியர்
செயற்கரிய செய்கலா தார்.
Things hard in the doing will great men do;
Things hard in the doing the mean eschew.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Great people do the hard things; small-minded people can't.
Open in the appசுவைஒளி ஊறுஓசை நாற்றமென ஐந்தின்
வகைதெரிவான் கட்டே உலகு.
Taste, light, touch, sound, and smell: who knows the way
Of all the five,- the world submissive owns his sway.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Whoever understands taste, sight, touch, sound and smell understands the world.
Open in the appநிறைமொழி மாந்தர் பெருமை நிலத்து
மறைமொழி காட்டி விடும்.
The might of men whose word is never vain,
The 'secret word' shall to the earth proclaim.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: The words of truly great people, even in scripture, show the world how great they are.
Open in the appகுணமென்னும் குன்றேறி நின்றார் வெகுளி
கணமேயும் காத்தல் அரிது.
The wrath 'tis hard e'en for an instant to endure,
Of those who virtue's hill have scaled, and stand secure.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: Good people rarely get angry, but even a moment of their anger is impossible to withstand.
Open in the appஅந்தணர் என்போர் அறவோர்மற் றெவ்வுயிர்க்கும்
செந்தண்மை பூண்டொழுக லான்.
Towards all that breathe, with seemly graciousness adorned they live;
And thus to virtue's sons the name of 'Anthanar' men give.
G.U. Pope, 1886
In today's words: The truly holy are those who show kindness to every living thing.
Open in the app