Kural #185
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Tamil text
அறஞ்சொல்லும் நெஞ்சத்தான் அன்மை
புறஞ்சொல்லும் புன்மையாள் தோன்றும் அளவு
Aṟañcollum neñcattāṉ aṉmai
Puṟañcollum puṉmaiyāḷ tōṉṟum aḷavu
English translation
The extent of one's backbiting reveals how far their heart is from virtue.
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Explanation
Backbiting is a measure of moral deficiency. The more one speaks ill of others behind their backs, the less virtue they possess. Gossip is a window into moral character.
விளக்கம்
புறங்கூறுதல் அறம் இல்லாத மனதின் அடையாளம். ஒருவர் மற்றவர்களைப் பற்றிப் புறம்பேசி இகழ்வது, அவரது மனதில் அறம் எவ்வளவு குறைவாக உள்ளது என்பதைக் காட்டுகிறது. புறங்கூறாமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, இது ஒழுக்கக் குறைவின் வெளிப்பாடு. பிறரைத் தூற்றுவது தவறு.
Word meanings
- அறம்aṟamvirtue
- சொல்லும்collumspeaking
- நெஞ்சத்தான்neñcattāṉof the heart
- அன்மைaṉmaiabsence
- புறம்puṟambehind
- சொல்லும்collumspeaking
- புன்மையாள்puṉmaiyāḷbaseness
- தோன்றும்tōṉṟumappears
- அளவுaḷavumeasure/extent
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two weavers, Elara and Rohan. Elara was known for her exquisite silk cloths, while Rohan’s tapestries were sturdy but plain. One day, a wealthy merchant praised Elara's work in the marketplace, causing Rohan to seethe. Later, Rohan met with other villagers, subtly criticizing Elara's business practices, whispering about how she supposedly overcharged customers and hoarded the best silk. He didn't mention her skill, only her supposed flaws. Word of Rohan's whispers reached the merchant, who, upon hearing the accusations, decided against further dealings with Elara. The villagers, once friendly, began to avoid her, casting suspicious glances at her silk cloths. Rohan, meanwhile, continued to weave, his tapestries remaining unappreciated. Soon, the merchant left the village. Elara, now alone, found her loom gathering dust, while Rohan, though successful in his gossip, remained unhappy.