Resolute Effort
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
uramoruvaṟ kuḷḷa veṟukkaiyaḵ tillār / maramakka ḷātalē vēṟu.
“Firmness of soul in man is real excellance; / Others are trees, their human form a mere pretence.”
“Exuberance of spirit, that alone is strength: those that have it not are mere stocks: their human bodies alone make the difference.”
Abundant resolve is a person's firmness; those without it are trees, the classical claim says severely, differing from literal trees only in human form.
Ask about this Kural
Answers are drawn only from this Kural's sourced text and named commentary, and always cite what they used.
Choose a section
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒருவற்கு உரம் உள்ள வெறுக்கை= ஒருவற்குத் திண்ணிய அறிவாவது ஊக்கம்மிகுதி; அஃது இல்லார் மரம்= அவ்வூக்கம் மிகுதிஇல்லாதார் மக்கள் ஆகார், மரங்களாவார்; மக்களாதலே வேறு= சாதிமரங்களோடு, இம்மரங்களிடை வேற்றுமை, வடிவுமக்கள்வடிவே, பிறிதில்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A person's true strength consists in abundant inner zeal; those who lack that energy are like trees, differing from timber only in human form.