Kural #407
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Tamil text
நுண்மாண் நுழைபுலம் இல்லான் எழில்நலம்
மண்மாண் புனைபாவை யற்று
Nuṇmāṇ nuḻaipulam illāṉ eḻilnalam
Maṇmāṇ puṉaipāvai yaṟṟu
English translation
The beauty of one without subtle, penetrating intellect is like the beauty of a clay doll.
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Explanation
Physical beauty without wisdom is like a beautifully crafted clay idol - pleasing to look at but lifeless and useless. True beauty comes from within, from a cultivated mind.
விளக்கம்
கூர்மையான அறிவு இல்லாதவரின் அழகு, அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட களிமண் பொம்மை போல பயனற்றது. கல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கல்வி அறிவே உண்மையான அழகு என்கிறது குறள். வெறும் வெளித்தோற்றம் மட்டும் முக்கியமல்ல, அறிவும் முக்கியம்.
Word meanings
- நுண்nuṇsubtle/fine
- மாண்māṇexcellent
- நுழைnuḻaipenetrating
- புலம்pulamintellect/field
- இல்லான்illāṉone who lacks
- எழில்eḻilbeauty
- நலம்nalamgoodness
- மண்maṇclay/earth
- புனைpuṉaidecorated
- பாவைpāvaidoll/idol
- அற்றுaṟṟuis like
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two sisters, Lila and Maya. Lila possessed a face that launched a thousand smiles; her beauty was the talk of the marketplace. Maya, however, was known for her sharp wit and insightful observations, though her appearance was plain. A wealthy merchant, seeking a wife, visited the village. He first saw Lila, and was instantly captivated. He showered her with gifts, marveling at her radiant beauty. However, when he spoke to her, her responses were shallow, echoing only the merchant’s own words. Then he encountered Maya. Though less striking, her conversation was a refreshing stream of knowledge and thoughtful perspectives. She spoke of the stars, the seasons, and the merchant's own business with a depth he hadn't imagined. The merchant, after much deliberation, chose Maya as his bride. He found her inner light far more captivating than Lila's fleeting beauty, understanding that true value lay not in the surface, but in the depths of the heart and mind.