~ TamiL Proverbs ~

[MysteRy]

16.Nizhalin arumai veiyilil thaan theriyu

~   Only when in the sun do you miss the shade.

[MysteRy]

17.Kadugu ciruththaalum kaaram kuraiyaathu

~   The mustard its small, but it is still too spicy (literal)

~   Don't measure the worth of a person by their size/shape

~  Size does not matter

[MysteRy]

18.Moorthy chinnathaanalum keerthi periyathu

~   The idol may be small, its fame is big.

~  Don't judge the worth of a person by their size

~  Size does not matter

[MysteRy]

19.Puli Pasitthalum Pullai Thinnadhu

~   Even hunger wont make tiger eat grass (literal)

~  A person never loses his nature no matter how hard-pressed

[MysteRy]

20.CiRu nunalum than vaayaal kedum

~   The frog that talks is soon dead (literal)

 ~   Know when to keep quiet.

[MysteRy]

21.Kattrathu Kai Man Alavu, Kallaathathu Ulagalavu

~  Alternatively "Known is a drop, unknown is an Ocean".

(Source: Avvaiyar)

[MysteRy]

22.Theeyinal sutta punn ullaarum aaraathe naavinaal sutta vadu 

~   The wounds of fire would vanish with time but the wounds caused by
words never

(Source: Thiruk-kural)

[MysteRy]

23.Paambin kaal paambariyum

~   Only a snake will know the tracks left by another snake. (literal)

~ The persons involved in similar activities know each other better
than others do

[MysteRy]

24.Tholvi unnai thòrkadikkum mun tholviyai nee thorkadithu vidu

~    Defeat defeat before defeat defeats you.

(Source: Swami Vivekananda)

[MysteRy]

25.Aalaakku arisi, moolaakkup paanai, mudhaliyar varugira veeraappap
paarum

~    Half an ounce of rice, a quarter ounce pot. But look at the false pride
of the mudhaliyar

[MysteRy]

26.arai koththarisi anna dhaanam. Vidiya vidiya maela thaalam

~   Half a pot of rice is given as charity but the announcing drumming is
done all night.

[MysteRy]

27.Minnuvathellam ponnu alla

~    All that glitters is not gold.

[MysteRy]

28.Verumkai enbathu moodathanam,un viralgal pathum mooladhanam.

~   There is nothing called empty hands. You always have 10 fingers in it

~ Your effort is what all you have got.

[MysteRy]

29.Arukamataathan keil 58 aruvaala

~  A person who does not know to cut has 58 sickles in his hand.
 
(Sarcasm)

[MysteRy]

30.Adi mel adi vaithal ammium nagaru

~ If you keep hitting it, even the ammi will move.
(Ammi is a large grind stone usually not moved from its position)
(Literal)

~ Try and try till you succeed.