Kural #1013
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Tamil text
நாணால் உயிரைத் துறப்பர்
உயிர்ப்பொருட்டால் நாண்துறவார் நாணாள் பவர்
Nāṇāl uyirait tuṟappar
Uyirpporuṭṭāl nāṇtuṟavār nāṇāḷ pavar
English translation
Those ruled by modesty will give up life for honor, but never give up honor for the sake of life.
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Explanation
For the truly modest, honor is more precious than life itself. They would rather die than commit a shameful act. This is the ultimate test of நாண் - preferring death to disgrace.
விளக்கம்
நாணமுடையவர் மானத்திற்காக உயிரை விடுவார். ஆனால், உயிர் போகும் நிலையிலும் மானத்தை விடமாட்டார். நாண் உடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், மானமே பெரிதென வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். மானம் காப்பதே சிறப்பு.
Word meanings
- நாண்nāṇmodesty/honor
- ஆல்ālfor the sake of
- உயிரைuyirailife
- துறப்பர்tuṟapparwill give up
- உயிர்uyirlife
- பொருட்டால்poruṭṭālfor the sake of
- துறவார்tuṟavārwill not give up
- ஆள்பவர்āḷpavarthose ruled by
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arul. He was known for his honesty and strong work ethic. One harsh winter, the village faced famine. The King, desperate, offered a chest of gold to anyone who could steal from the royal granary. Many villagers, driven by hunger, crept towards the granary under the cloak of night. Arul, too, was tempted. His children were crying from hunger, and the gold would save them. He approached the granary, the moon casting long shadows. He saw the unlocked door, the overflowing sacks of grain. But as he reached for a sack, the faces of his children morphed into a vision of shame. He remembered his father's words, "Better to starve with honor than feast with disgrace." Arul turned and walked away, back to his empty hut. The next day, he found the King had learned of the villagers' attempted theft. He admired Arul's integrity and rewarded him handsomely, saving his family and the village.