Kural #654
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Tamil text
இடுக்கண் படினும் இளிவந்த செய்யார்
நடுக்கற்ற காட்சி யவர்
Iṭukkaṇ paṭiṉum iḷivanta ceyyār
Naṭukkaṟṟa kāṭci yavar
English translation
Those with unwavering vision will not do disgraceful deeds even when facing adversity.
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Explanation
True integrity means maintaining ethics even in hardship (இடுக்கண்). Those with நடுக்கற்ற காட்சி (steady, impartial vision) never stoop to இளிவந்த செய்கை (disgraceful actions).
விளக்கம்
துன்பம் வந்தாலும், தெளிவான மனதுடையவர் இழிவான செயல்களைச் செய்யமாட்டார். வினைத்தூய்மை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, கஷ்டத்திலும் நேர்மையாக இருப்பதுதான் சிறந்த பண்பு. நடுங்காத மனமே நல்ல செயல்களுக்கு வழி காட்டும்.
Word meanings
- இடுக்கண்iṭukkaṇadversity/trouble
- படினும்paṭiṉumeven if suffering
- இளிவுiḷivudisgrace
- அந்தantathat which brings
- செய்யார்ceyyārwill not do
- நடுக்குnaṭukkutrembling/wavering
- அற்றaṟṟawithout
- காட்சிkāṭcivision
- அவர்avarthose
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived a merchant named Arul. His shop, famed for its fine silks, was his livelihood and his pride. One harsh winter, a devastating flood swept through the village, leaving Arul bankrupt. His shop, his home, all were gone. Desperate and hungry, a rival merchant, jealous of Arul's past success, offered him a deal: counterfeit the royal insignia onto cheap cloth, and they would both become rich overnight. Arul hesitated. He looked at his empty hands, at the shivering children of the village. The temptation was strong. But Arul remembered his father's words: "A good name is worth more than gold." He politely declined the offer, choosing honesty over immediate wealth. Though the coming months were filled with hardship, Arul rebuilt his life, slowly, with integrity. Eventually, his business flourished again, and the villagers respected him even more than before.