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Kural 598

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uḷḷa milātava reytā rulakattu / vaḷḷiya reṉṉuñ cerukku.

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“The soulless man can never gain / Th' ennobling sense of power with men.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“Behold the men that are wanting in energy: the glory of an exhaustless liberality can never be theirs.”

Modern readingAI draft

Rulers without resolve do not attain, in this world, the proud self-regard of being called generous.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

உள்ளம் இலாதவர்= ஊக்கம் இல்லாத அரசர்; உலகத்து வள்ளியம் என்னும் செருக்கு எய்தார்= இவ்வுலகத்தாருள் யாம் வண்மையுடையேம் என்று தம்மைத்தாம் மதித்தலைப் பெறார்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Those who lack dynamic energy will never attain the noble satisfaction of being recognized throughout the world as generous benefactors.