Kural #1019
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Tamil text
குலஞ்சுடும் கொள்கை பிழைப்பின்
நலஞ்சுடும் நாணின்மை நின்றக் கடை
Kulañcuṭum koḷkai piḻaippiṉ
Nalañcuṭum nāṇiṉmai niṉṟak kaṭai
English translation
Wrong beliefs will destroy family honor; shamelessness, if it stays, will destroy all virtue.
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Explanation
Flawed ideology harms family reputation, but persistent shamelessness is far more destructive - it consumes all goodness. Modesty is the guardian of virtue; without it, no good quality can survive.
விளக்கம்
குலப்பெருமை தவறான எண்ணத்தால் கெடும். ஆனால், நாணமில்லாவிட்டால் எல்லா நற்குணமும் அழியும். நாணம் ஒரு காப்பு. அது இல்லாவிட்டால் நன்மையே இல்லை. இது நாணுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில் வருகிறது.
Word meanings
- குலம்kulamfamily/lineage
- சுடும்cuṭumwill burn
- கொள்கைkoḷkaibelief/principle
- பிழைப்பின்piḻaippiṉif wrong
- நலம்nalamvirtue/goodness
- நாணின்மைnāṇiṉmailack of modesty
- நின்றக்கடைniṉṟakkaṭaiif persisting
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, lived a merchant named Theron. He was once known for his honesty, and his shop thrived. But greed twisted his heart. He began to subtly cheat his customers, adding hidden fees and short-changing weights. At first, the villagers whispered, but they still bought from him, for his shop offered the widest selection. One day, a young woman, Elara, caught him. He blushed, but instead of apologizing, he scoffed at her, saying, “Business is business!” Elara left, her face a mask of disappointment. Soon, news of Theron's trickery spread like wildfire. Villagers stopped visiting his shop. His shelves remained full, and his coffers emptied. Even his own family turned away, ashamed of his actions. Theron was left alone, surrounded by his wealth, yet utterly bereft.