Kural #1017
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நாணால் உயிரைத் துறப்பர்
உயிர்ப்பொருட்டால் நாண்துறவார் நாணாள் பவர்
Nāṇāl uyirait tuṟappar
Uyirpporuṭṭāl nāṇtuṟavār nāṇāḷ pavar
English translation
Those governed by modesty would sacrifice life for honor, but never sacrifice honor for life.
Listen
Explanation
This kural reiterates the supreme value of modesty. The truly honorable consider disgrace worse than death. They would give up life to preserve their moral integrity, but never compromise their principles to save their life.
விளக்கம்
நாணமுடையவர்கள் மானத்திற்காக உயிரை விடுவார்கள். ஆனால், உயிரைக் காக்க மானத்தை விடமாட்டார்கள். நாணுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், மானமே பெரிதென வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். ஒழுக்கமே உயிர் காக்கும் கவசம்.
Word meanings
- நாண்nāṇmodesty/honor
- ஆல்ālfor
- உயிரைuyirailife
- துறப்பர்tuṟapparwill sacrifice
- உயிர்uyirlife
- பொருட்டால்poruṭṭālfor the sake of
- துறவார்tuṟavārwill not sacrifice
- ஆள்பவர்āḷpavarthose governed 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, even when times were hard. One harsh winter, the village elder, a greedy man, accused Arul of stealing firewood, a crime punishable by banishment. Arul was given a choice: admit guilt and keep his place in the village, or maintain his innocence and face exile into the cold wilderness. He knew the forest held dangers, and survival would be a struggle. His family pleaded with him to concede, to save himself from hardship. But Arul stood firm. "I have never stolen," he declared, his voice trembling but resolute. "My honor is more precious than warmth or shelter." He was banished, as the elder had demanded. Days turned into weeks. The villagers, at first pitying, soon forgot him. Then, a severe storm struck, and the elder's home was destroyed. Only Arul, surviving in the forest, knew how to rebuild it. He returned, offering help without a word of blame.