Greatness
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aṟṟa maṟaikkum perumai ciṟumaitāṉ / kuṟṟamē kūṟi viṭum.
“Greatness will hide a neighbour's shame; / Meanness his faults to all the world proclaim.”
“Greatness is always for screening the infirmities of others: but littleness will talk nothing but scandal.”
Greatness shields the weaknesses of others; smallness loudly broadcasts their faults.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெருமை அற்றம் மறைக்கும்= பெருமையுடையார் பிறர் மானத்தையே கூறி அவமானத்தை மறையாநிற்பர்; சிறுமைதான் குற்றமே கூறிவிடும்= மற்றைச் சிறுமையுடையார், பிறர் குணத்தை மறைத்துக் குற்றத்தையே கூறி விடுவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Greatness magnanimously covers and protects the shortcomings of others; whereas pettiness loudly broadcasts their faults to the world.