Kural #689
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Tamil text
விடுமாற்றம் வேந்தர்க்கு உரைப்பான்
வடுமாற்றம் வாய்சோரா வன்கணவன்
Viṭumāṟṟam vēntarkku uraippāṉ
Vaṭumāṟṟam vāycōrā vaṉkaṇavaṉ
English translation
He who delivers the message to kings without letting slip any word that would cause harm is the courageous envoy.
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Explanation
A true envoy delivers the message (விடுமாற்றம்) without accidentally uttering harmful words (வடுமாற்றம் வாய்சோரா). Such restraint requires வன்கண் (courage/boldness) under pressure.
விளக்கம்
தூது செல்பவன் அரசரிடம் செய்தி சொல்லும்போது, தவறுதலாகக்கூட தீங்கு தரும் சொல் சொல்லக்கூடாது. அப்படிப் பேசாமல் இருக்க தைரியம் வேண்டும். தூது அதிகாரத்தில், நல்ல தூதனின் திறமையை இது காட்டுது.
Word meanings
- விடுviṭusent
- மாற்றம்māṟṟammessage/word
- வேந்தர்க்குvēntarkkuto kings
- உரைப்பான்uraippāṉone who speaks
- வடுvaṭufault/harm
- வாய்vāymouth
- சோராcōrānot slipping
- வன்கண்vaṉkaṇcourage
- அவன்avaṉhe
Story behind this kural
The King's Messenger, a young man named Arul, was sent to the neighboring kingdom. The King had demanded a hefty tribute, a demand sure to anger the neighboring King. Arul knew the weight of his task. He was to deliver the message, but he also knew a single misspoken word could ignite a war. He stood before the King, the message clutched tight in his hand. The King's face darkened as he listened. A tremor of anger passed over his features. "Is this a threat?" he boomed. Arul took a breath, remembering his King's instructions. He replied calmly, "My King seeks only peace and prosperity for both our kingdoms. The tribute is a gesture of goodwill, a sharing of resources." He spoke plainly, omitting any inflammatory language, even under the King's intimidating gaze. The King, after a moment of silence, nodded slowly. He understood the message and the messenger's restraint. He agreed to the terms, and war was averted. Arul returned home, not as a hero, but as a man who understood the power of carefully chosen words.