Kural #707
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
முகத்தின் முதுக்குறைந்தது உண்டோ
உவப்பினும் காயினும் தான்முந் துறும்
Mukattiṉ mutukuṟaintatu uṇṭō
Uvappiṉum kāyiṉum tāṉmun tuṟum
English translation
Is there anything more transparent than the face? It reveals joy or anger before one speaks.
Listen
Explanation
Nothing is more revealing than the face (முகத்தின் முதுக்குறைந்தது உண்டோ). Whether pleased (உவப்பு) or angry (காய்), the face shows it first (முந்துறும்), before any word is spoken.
விளக்கம்
முகமே மனதில் உள்ளதை உடனே காட்டும். மகிழ்ச்சியோ கோபமோ, எதுவானாலும் முதலில் முகத்தில் தெரியும். குறிப்பறிதல் அதிகாரத்தில், பிறர் மனதை முகத்தால் அறியலாம் என்பது இதன் நீதி.
Word meanings
- முகத்தின்mukattiṉthan the face
- முதுmutumature/revealing
- குறைந்ததுkuṟaintatuless than
- உண்டோuṇṭōis there
- உவப்பினும்uvappiṉumwhether pleased
- காயினும்kāyiṉumwhether angry
- தான்tāṉitself
- முந்துறும்muntuṟumcomes first
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Silas, was known for his wisdom. One day, two merchants approached him, each vying for a favorable trade deal. The first, Elias, smiled widely, his eyes crinkling with practiced charm as he offered Silas the finest silks. Silas, however, saw a flicker of greed in Elias’s eyes, a fleeting shadow that betrayed his eagerness to overcharge. The second merchant, Thomas, presented his wares with a calm demeanor. He spoke plainly, his face unreadable. Silas noticed a subtle clenching of Thomas's jaw, a hint of nervousness as he named his price. Silas, though, saw genuine honesty in the man’s careful gaze. Silas agreed to trade with Thomas. Elias, feigning disappointment, departed. As he walked away, a grimace contorted his features. Silas smiled, knowing the face rarely lies, even when the tongue is skilled in deception.