Kural #1078
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Tamil text
மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார்
நீராடி யென்ஐயம் மேனியது ஆம்
Maṉattatu māsāka māṇṭār
Nīrāṭi yeṉaiyam mēṉiyatu ām
English translation
For those whose minds are stained with baseness, what doubt is there? Bathing only cleanses the body.
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Explanation
Physical cleanliness means nothing if the mind is corrupted. Base people may bathe their bodies, but their souls remain filthy.
விளக்கம்
மனதில் அழுக்கிருந்தால், உடலை நீராடி கழுவுவதால் பயனில்லை. கயமை என்னும் அதிகாரத்தில், மனதில் தூய்மையில்லாதவர் வெளித்தோற்றத்தை மட்டும் கவனிப்பது பயனற்றது என்கிறார் திருவள்ளுவர். மனத்தூய்மையே முக்கியம்.
Word meanings
- மனத்துmaṉattuin the mind
- அதுatuthat
- மாசுmācustain/impurity
- ஆகākabeing
- மாண்டார்māṇṭārthose who are
- நீர்nīrwater
- ஆடிāṭibathing
- என்eṉwhat
- ஐயம்aiyamdoubt
- மேனிmēṉibody
- அதுatuthat
- ஆம்āmis
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived two men: Arun, a wealthy merchant, and Kumar, a humble potter. Arun, known for his shrewd deals, always haggled for the lowest price, even from the poorest villagers. He built a grand house, but his heart remained cold. Every morning, Arun would bathe in the river, scrubbing his skin until it glowed. Kumar, though poorer, possessed a generous spirit. He shared his meager meals and offered his clay pots at fair prices. Though his hands were often stained with clay, his heart was always warm. One day, a terrible sickness swept through the village. Arun, despite his daily cleansing, fell ill, his body ravaged. Kumar, caring for others, remained healthy. The villagers, watching Arun's suffering, saw that true health wasn't just about the body, but about the spirit within.