Kural #277
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Tamil text
புறங்குன்றி கண்டனைய ரேனும்
அகங்குன்றி மூக்கின் கரியார் உடைத்து
Puṟaṅkuṉṟi kaṇṭaṉaiya rēṉum
Akaṅkuṉṟi mūkkiṉ kariyār uṭaittu
English translation
Even if one appears outwardly like the red-eyed kunri seed, the world has those who are black like its tip on the inside.
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Explanation
The kunri seed (Abrus precatorius) has a beautiful red exterior with a black tip. Some people are like this seed - appearing virtuous outside but having a dark heart within. The world contains such hypocrites.
விளக்கம்
குன்றிமணி வெளியில சிவப்பா அழகா இருக்கும்; உள்ள கறுப்பா இருக்கும். சில மனிதர்கள் வெளியில நல்லவங்களா நடிப்பாங்க, ஆனா மனசுல கெட்ட எண்ணங்கள் இருக்கும். கூடாவொழுக்கம் கூடாது; உள்ளொன்று வைத்துப் புறமொன்று பேசக்கூடாது.
Word meanings
- புறம்puṟamoutside
- குன்றிkuṉṟikunri seed
- கண்டkaṇṭalike the eye (red)
- அனையர்aṉaiyarlike those
- ஏனும்ēṉumeven though
- அகம்akaminside
- மூக்கின்mūkkiṉlike the tip
- கரியார்kariyārblack ones
- உடைத்துuṭaittuhas/possesses
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two merchants, Arun and Bala. Arun, with his booming laugh and generous gifts, was beloved. He built a temple and often fed the poor, his face always beaming with kindness. Bala, quiet and reserved, rarely smiled. He gave little, and his shop was modest. One harsh winter, a famine struck. Arun's granaries remained full, yet he refused to share, fearing loss. Meanwhile, Bala, though his stores were small, secretly distributed grain to the starving families under the cloak of night. When the rains finally returned, the villagers gathered to celebrate. Arun, resplendent in fine clothes, accepted their praise with a wide grin. Bala stood silently in the shadows, his face unreadable. That day, the villagers learned that a beautiful exterior does not always reveal a beautiful heart. True virtue lies not in appearance, but in unseen actions.