Kural #280
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
மழித்தலும் நீட்டலும் வேண்டா
உலகம் பழித்தது ஒழித்து விடின்
Maḻittalum nīṭṭalum vēṇṭā
Ulakam paḻittatu oḻittu viṭiṉ
English translation
Neither shaving the head nor growing long hair is needed, if one simply avoids what the world condemns.
Listen
Explanation
External signs of renunciation - shaving the head (like monks) or growing matted locks (like sages) - are unnecessary. What truly matters is abandoning actions that society rightly condemns as wrong. Inner purity surpasses outward symbols.
விளக்கம்
உலகம் வெறுக்கும் செயல்களை விட்டுவிட்டால், மொட்டை அடித்தோ, சடை வளர்த்தோ துறவி போல் காட்டிக்கொள்ளத் தேவையில்லை. கூடாவொழுக்கம் அதிகாரத்தில், உள்ளொன்று வைத்துப் புறமொன்று பேசும் போலிகளை வள்ளுவர் சாடுகிறார். வெளி வேடம் முக்கியமில்லை; நல்ல செயலே முக்கியம்.
Word meanings
- மழித்தல்maḻittalshaving (the head)
- நீட்டல்nīṭṭalgrowing long (hair)
- வேண்டாvēṇṭāis not needed
- உலகம்ulakamthe world
- பழித்ததுpaḻittatuwhat is condemned
- ஒழித்துoḻittuabandoning
- விடின்viṭiṉif
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a shimmering lake lived two men, both seeking enlightenment. One, named Kavi, shaved his head and wore simple robes, meditating daily. The other, Arul, grew a long, unkempt beard and wandered the forest, claiming to live a life of renunciation. The villagers admired Kavi's outward appearance of piety. They offered him food and showed him great respect. Arul, however, often spoke harshly and cheated merchants when he could. He was known for his selfishness. One day, a great storm struck. The lake overflowed, threatening the village. Kavi remained in his hut, meditating. Arul, despite his ragged appearance, organized the villagers, helping them build a dam to divert the flood. He worked tirelessly, saving homes and lives. When the storm passed, the villagers, though initially wary of Arul, thanked him with genuine gratitude. They still offered respect to Kavi, but now with a subtle difference, a kind of polite distance.