Kural #436
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Tamil text
தன்குற்றம் நீக்கிப் பிறர்குற்றங் காண்கிற்பின்
என்குற்றம் ஆகும் இறைக்கு
Taṉkuṟṟam nīkkip piṟarkuṟṟaṅ kāṇkiṟpiṉ
Eṉkuṟṟam ākum iṟaikku
English translation
If a ruler first removes his own faults and then examines others' faults, what fault can be attributed to him?
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Explanation
Self-correction must precede criticism of others. A leader who has eliminated their own flaws earns the moral authority to address the flaws of others. This is the essence of fair governance.
விளக்கம்
தன்னுடைய தப்பை முதலில் திருத்தி, பிறகு மற்றவர் தப்பை பார்த்தால், அரசனுக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்ல முடியும்? "குற்றங்கடிதல்" அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். நாம் சரியாய் இருந்தால், மற்றவரைத் திருத்தலாம் என்பதே நீதி.
Word meanings
- தன்taṉone's own
- குற்றம்kuṟṟamfault
- நீக்கிnīkkiremoving
- பிறர்piṟarothers'
- காண்கிற்பின்kāṇkiṟpiṉif examines
- என்eṉwhat
- ஆகும்ākumwill be
- இறைக்குiṟaikkufor the ruler
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived a king known for his sharp tongue. He constantly found fault with his villagers. "The baker’s bread is too hard!" he'd bellow. "The weaver's cloth is too coarse!" he'd declare. One day, a wise old woman approached the king. "Your Majesty," she said, "the bridge across the river is crumbling. It is dangerous." The king, quick to criticize, replied, "Why haven't you fixed it? You are all so careless!" The woman smiled. "Before you judge the bridge, look at the cracks in your own castle walls, Your Majesty." The king, taken aback, examined his castle. Indeed, the walls were crumbling. He ordered the repairs immediately. Only after his castle was restored did he turn his attention to the bridge, and then, the village flourished under his improved leadership.