Kural #653
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Tamil text
ஓஒதல் வேண்டும் ஒளிமாழ்கும் செய்வினை
ஆஅதும் என்னும் அவா
Ōotal vēṇṭum oḷimāḻkum ceyviṉai
Āatum eṉṉum avā
English translation
One should renounce the greed that says "let it be done" when the action would dim one's reputation.
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Explanation
Greed (அவா) may tempt us to act shamefully for gain. But actions that dim one's ஒளி (brightness/reputation) must be rejected. Honor matters more than profit.
விளக்கம்
கீர்த்தி குறையும் செயலைச் "செய்து விடலாம்" என்ற பேராசையை விட வேண்டும். ஒளிவு மறைவு இல்லாமல் நேர்மையாகச் செயல்படுவதே வினைத்தூய்மை. புகழே முக்கியம், பொருள் அன்று.
Word meanings
- ஓஒதல்ōotalrenouncing
- வேண்டும்vēṇṭumshould
- ஒளிoḷibrightness/honor
- மாழ்கும்māḻkumdims/fades
- செய்வினைceyviṉaiaction to be done
- ஆஅதும்āatumlet it be done
- என்னும்eṉṉumsaying
- அவாavāgreed/desire
Story behind this kural
The merchant, Arun, yearned to be the wealthiest in the village. A crooked trader offered him a shortcut: sell tainted spices, promising enormous profits. Arun hesitated. His reputation for honesty was his most prized possession. Yet, the promise of riches gnawed at him. He pictured the grand house, the silk robes, the envy in others' eyes. He almost agreed, but then he remembered his father’s words: “A good name is worth more than all the gold in the world.” Arun declined the offer, choosing to remain true to his principles. The other villagers, hearing of the tainted spices, ostracized the crooked trader. Arun continued to trade honestly, slowly building his wealth. Years later, his business flourished, not because of shortcuts, but because of the trust he had earned. His name, spoken with respect, opened doors the tainted spices never could.