Kural #1018
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Tamil text
பிறர்நாணத் தக்கது தான்நாணா னாயின்
அறம்நாணத் தக்கது உடைத்து
Piṟarnāṇat takkatu tānnāṇā ṉāyiṉ
Aṟamnāṇat takkatu uṭaittu
English translation
If one is not ashamed of what would shame others, virtue itself will be ashamed of such a person.
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Explanation
When someone lacks the sensitivity to feel shame for universally disgraceful acts, even Dharma (அறம்) is ashamed of them. Virtue personified turns away from the shameless person.
விளக்கம்
பிறர் செய்யத் தகாதென நாணும் செயல்களைச் செய்ய ஒருவன் நாணாமலிருந்தால், அறமே அவனை விட்டு விலகிப்போகும். நாணுடைமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, ஒழுக்கக்கேடான செயல்களுக்கு வெட்கப்படாவிட்டால் அறம் அவனை வெறுக்கும். கெட்ட செயல்களுக்கு நாண வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- பிறர்piṟarothers
- நாணnāṇato be ashamed
- தக்கதுtakkatuthat which is worthy of
- தான்tāṉoneself
- நாணான்nāṇāṉis not ashamed
- ஆயின்āyiṉif
- அறம்aṟamvirtue/dharma
- உடைத்துuṭaittuhas/possesses
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a merchant named Tharan. He was known for his shrewd deals, often tricking customers with false weights and measures. Though others whispered their disapproval, Tharan never blushed or showed any remorse. He would simply chuckle and count his growing pile of coins. One day, a wise old woman came to his shop. She requested a small measure of rice. Tharan, seeing an opportunity, used a cleverly altered scale to cheat her. As he did so, a strange thing occurred. The sunlight that streamed through his shop window seemed to dim. The air grew heavy, and a gentle breeze that usually rustled the leaves outside fell silent. The woman, with a knowing look, simply paid and left. From that day on, despite his accumulating wealth, Tharan found his shop deserted. No one trusted him, and his heart felt as empty as his silent, echoing store.