Greatness
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paṇiyumā meṉṟum perumai ciṟumai / yaṇiyumān taṉṉai viyantu.
“Greatness humbly bends, but littleness always / Spreads out its plumes, and loads itself with praise.”
“Greatness is ever unpretending and modest: but littleness vaunteth its merits before all the world.”
Greatness always conducts itself with humility; smallness constantly parades its self-admiration.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெருமை என்றும் பணியுமாம்= பெருமையுடையார், அச்சிறப்பு உண்டாய ஞான்றும் தருக்கின்றி அமைந்தொழுகுவர்; சிறுமை (என்றும்) தன்னை வியந்து அணியுமாம்= மற்றைச் சிறுமையுடையார் அஃது இல்லாத ஞான்றும் தம்மை வியந்து புனையாநிற்பர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
True greatness always conducts itself with gracious humility; while pettiness constantly decks itself in self-admiration and vain conceit.