Kural #1011
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
கருமத்தால் நாணுதல் நாணுத்
திருநுதல் நல்லவர் நாணுப் பிற
Karumattāl nāṇutal nāṇut
Tirunutal nallavar nāṇup piṟa
English translation
Being ashamed of shameful deeds is true modesty; the modesty of virtuous women is of a different kind.
Listen
Explanation
This opening kural distinguishes two types of நாண் (modesty): moral shame that prevents wrongdoing, and the natural bashfulness of virtuous women. The first is ethical conscience; the second is feminine grace. Both are valuable but different.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 1011: தவறான செயல்களுக்கு வெட்கப்படுவதே நாணம். ஒழுக்கமான பெண்கள் வெட்கப்படுவது வேறுவிதம். நாணுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், இது ஒழுக்கத்தையும், பெண்மையின் சிறப்பையும் சொல்கிறது. தப்பு செய்யாமல் இருக்கணும்.
Word meanings
- கருமம்karumamdeed/action
- ஆல்ālby/because of
- நாணுதல்nāṇutalbeing ashamed
- நாணுnāṇumodesty
- திருநுதல்tirunutalbeautiful-browed (virtuous women)
- நல்லவர்nallavargood/virtuous ones
- பிறpiṟaother/different
Story behind this kural
The merchant, Silas, was known throughout the village for his cunning deals. He’d often shortchange customers, hiding imperfections in his wares. One day, a young woman, Elara, came to his stall. She admired a silk scarf, its vibrant colours catching the sunlight. Silas, seeing her interest, named a price far higher than its worth. Elara hesitated, her cheeks flushing. She knew the price was inflated. Then, a traveling sage arrived, observing the transaction. Silas, embarrassed by the sage’s presence, quickly lowered the price, offering a fair deal. Elara purchased the scarf, her smile brighter than the silk. Later, the sage approached Elara. "Your blush," he said, "was a different kind of shame than Silas’." He explained how one was the shame of wrongdoing, the other a natural grace. Silas, meanwhile, swore to change his ways, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders.