Kural #846
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Tamil text
அற்றம் மறைத்தலோ புல்லறிவு
தம்வயின் குற்றம் மறையா வழி
Aṟṟam maṟaittalō pullaṟivu
Tamvayiṉ kuṟṟam maṟaiyā vaḻi
English translation
It is petty wisdom to conceal one's private parts while not concealing one's faults.
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Explanation
A sharp observation: covering physical nakedness (அற்றம் மறைத்தல்) while leaving moral faults (குற்றம்) exposed is merely புல்லறிவு (petty wisdom). True wisdom covers character flaws, not just physical ones.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 846 விளக்கம்: உடலை மறைப்பது முக்கியம் தான், ஆனால் நம் குறைகளை மறைக்காமல் விடுவது புல்லறிவாகும். நம் தவறுகளை திருத்திக்கொள்வதே உண்மையான அறிவுடைமை. புல்லறிவாண்மை அதிகாரத்தில் இது சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது.
Word meanings
- அற்றம்aṟṟamnakedness/private parts
- மறைத்தல்maṟaittalconcealing
- புல்லறிவுpullaṟivupetty wisdom
- தம்tamone's own
- வயின்vayiṉin
- குற்றம்kuṟṟamfault
- மறையாmaṟaiyānot concealing
- வழிvaḻiway/when
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a weaver named Thulasi. She was known for her beautiful silks, prized throughout the land. Thulasi always wore fine clothes, covering herself from head to toe. Yet, she was also known for her sharp tongue and tendency to gossip, often speaking unkindly of her neighbors. One day, a wise old woman came to Thulasi's stall, admiring the silks. "Your work is exquisite," she said, "but tell me, do you also mend the threads within your own heart?" Thulasi, confused, looked at her silk garments. The old woman smiled. "It is easy to hide what the eye can see, but true beauty lies in what the heart reveals." Later, a merchant offered to buy all of Thulasi's silks, but only if she agreed to his unfair prices. She became enraged and refused him, loudly proclaiming his greed to the entire marketplace. The merchant just smiled and walked away.