Kural #716
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Tamil text
ஆற்றின் நிலைதளர்ந் தற்றே
வியன்புலம் ஏற்றுணர்வார் முன்னர் இழுக்கு
Āṟṟiṉ nilaitaḷarn taṟṟē
Viyaṉpulam ēṟṟuṇarvār muṉṉar iḻukku
English translation
Making a mistake before those who understand vast learning is like slipping from one's position in virtue.
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Explanation
Erring before the truly learned (வியன் புலம் ஏற்று உணர்வார்) is like falling from the path of virtue (ஆற்றின் நிலை தளர்ந்தற்றே). Before scholars, mistakes are magnified.
விளக்கம்
பெரிய அறிஞர்கள் முன்பு தவறு செய்தால், அறம் தவறின மாதிரி. கற்றறிந்தோர் முன் பிழை செய்வது இழுக்கு. அவையறிதல் அதிகாரத்தில், சபையின் மதிப்பு உணர்த்துவது போல், அறிவார்ந்த இடத்தில் பிழைக்காதே.
Word meanings
- ஆற்றின்āṟṟiṉof the path/virtue
- நிலைnilaiposition/standing
- தளர்ந்துtaḷarntuweakening/slipping
- அற்றேaṟṟēlike that
- வியன்viyaṉvast
- புலம்pulamlearning/field
- ஏற்றுēṟṟuaccepting/understanding
- உணர்வார்uṇarvārthose who perceive
- முன்னர்muṉṉarbefore
- இழுக்குiḻukkumistake/slip
Story behind this kural
The young potter, Arun, proudly displayed his newest creation: a magnificent clay pot, larger and more ornate than any he had crafted before. He presented it before the village elders, hoping for praise. Among them sat the wise old sage, Kavya, renowned for her knowledge of the craft. Arun boasted of the pot's perfect symmetry and durability. He declared it the finest pot in the land. As he spoke, a small crack, unnoticed by Arun, widened on the pot's side. Kavya, her eyes twinkling, gently pointed to the flaw. Arun, initially defiant, examined the crack, his face falling. He had been so focused on outward appearances that he missed the subtle imperfection. The other villagers, who had been ready to celebrate his triumph, now saw the flaw too. Their admiration evaporated. Arun, humbled, understood the true measure of craftsmanship. His grand display, marred by a single unnoticed mistake, revealed a deeper truth about the value of genuine skill.