Kural #504
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Tamil text
குணம்நாடிக் குற்றமும் நாடி
அவற்றுள் மிகைநாடி மிக்க கொளல்
Kuṇamnāṭik kuṟṟamum nāṭi
Avaṟṟuḷ mikaināṭi mikka koḷal
English translation
Examine the virtues, examine the faults, then determine which predominates and judge accordingly.
Listen
Explanation
A balanced approach to assessment: first identify qualities (குணம்), then identify faults (குற்றம்), then weigh which is greater. Accept those whose virtues outweigh their faults. No one is perfect, so this pragmatic approach is essential.
விளக்கம்
குணம், குற்றம் ரெண்டையும் ஆராய்ந்து, எது அதிகமோ அதை வைத்து ஒருத்தரைத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கணும். எல்லோர் கிட்டேயும் குறை இருக்கும்; நல்லத பாத்து ஏத்துக்கணும். இது 'தெரிந்து தெளிதல்' அதிகாரத்தோட கருத்து.
Word meanings
- குணம்kuṇamvirtue/quality
- நாடிnāṭiseeking/examining
- குற்றமும்kuṟṟamumfaults also
- அவற்றுள்avaṟṟuḷamong them
- மிகைmikaiexcess/greater
- மிக்கmikkathe greater
- கொளல்koḷalto accept/take
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Thiru, sought a new potter. Two applicants arrived. Kumar, known for his beautiful vases, displayed flawless work. Yet, whispers followed him – a sharp tongue, quick to anger. Ravi, on the other hand, presented sturdy, if somewhat plain, pots. He was known for patience, always ready to help his neighbors. Thiru examined each man’s work. He admired Kumar’s artistry, but remembered the villagers' complaints. He inspected Ravi's pots, noting a few imperfections. He listened to the gossip, weighing the good against the bad. Thiru called both men before the village. He praised Kumar's skill, but gently noted his temper. He complimented Ravi's character, acknowledging the simple nature of his work. The villagers waited. Which potter would Thiru choose? Ultimately, Thiru offered the position to Ravi, the steady, kind potter. He knew the village needed more than just beauty. They needed a good heart.