Kural #688
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Tamil text
தூய்மை துணைமை துணிவுடைமை
இம்மூன்றின் வாய்மை வழியுரைப்பான் பண்பு
Tūymai tuṇaimai tuṇivuṭaimai
Immūṉṟiṉ vāymai vaḻiyuraippāṉ paṇpu
English translation
Purity, supportive backing, and courage - speaking truthfully in these three is the quality of an envoy.
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Explanation
An envoy must be truthful about three things: தூய்மை (his own purity/integrity), துணைமை (the strength of his backing), and துணிவுடைமை (his courage). Honesty in these defines diplomatic character.
விளக்கம்
தூது செல்பவர் தூய்மை, ஆதரவு, தைரியம் பற்றி உண்மையே பேசணும். இந்த மூன்றும் அவரின் நல்ல குணங்கள். தூது அதிகாரத்தில், நேர்மையே சிறந்த தூதின் வழி என்கிறது குறள்.
Word meanings
- தூய்மைtūymaipurity/integrity
- துணைமைtuṇaimaisupport/backing
- துணிவுtuṇivucourage
- உடைமைuṭaimaipossession
- இம்மூன்றின்immūṉṟiṉof these three
- வாய்மைvāymaitruth
- வழிvaḻipath/way
- உரைப்பான்uraippāṉone who speaks
- பண்புpaṇpuquality
Story behind this kural
The King of Eldoria needed a new trade route. He summoned his advisors, choosing Elara, a young woman known for her honesty. “Go to the Iron Mountains,” he commanded, “and negotiate with the dwarves.” Elara traveled for weeks. Before the dwarves, she declared, "My king seeks a partnership, but he is just, and his word is his bond." She presented the king's gifts, showcasing their finest craftsmanship. When challenged, Elara spoke of Eldoria’s strong military, but quickly added, “We seek peace, not conquest.” The dwarf king, impressed by Elara’s sincerity, agreed to the trade. He knew Eldoria's gifts were beautiful and that its military was formidable. Yet, it was Elara's honest appraisal of her king's character and intentions that sealed the deal. The dwarves valued truth above all else. Elara returned home a hero, the trade flourishing, solidifying peace between the kingdom and the mountain folk.