Greatness
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piṟappokku mellā vuyirkkuñ ciṟappovvā / ceytoḻil vēṟṟumai yāṉ.
“All men that live are one in circumstances of birth; / Diversities of works give each his special worth.”
“The manner of birth is the same for all men: but their reputations vary because they differ in the lives that they lead.”
All human beings are born equal; distinctions arise solely from the varying quality of their actions.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் பிறப்பு ஒக்கும்= எல்லா மக்கள் உயிர்க்கும் பொதுவாகிய பிறப்பியல்பு ஒக்குமே எனினும்; சிறப்பு ஒவ்வா செய்தொழில் வேற்றுமையான்= பெருமை, சிறுமை எனப்பட்ட சிறப்பியல்கள் ஒவ்வா, அவை செய்யும் தொழில்களது வேறுபாட்டான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
All human beings are equal by birth; distinctions of true greatness arise solely from the varying excellence and virtue of the deeds they perform.