Kural #923
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Tamil text
ஈன்றாள் முகத்தேயும் இன்னாதால்
என்மற்றுச் சான்றோர் முகத்துக் களி
Īṉṟāḷ mukattēyum iṉṉātāl
Eṉmaṟṟuc cāṉṟōr mukattuk kaḷi
English translation
Drunkenness is disgraceful even before one's mother; how much worse before the wise!
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Explanation
If intoxication (களி) is shameful even before one's own mother (ஈன்றாள் முகத்து), imagine how disgraceful it is before respected elders (சான்றோர் முகத்து). The rhetorical question emphasizes the shame.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 923: தாய் முகத்துக்கே கள்ளுண்பது இழிவென்றால், சான்றோர் முன் எவ்வளவு கேவலம்? கள்ளுண்ணாமை அதிகாரத்தில், பெரியோர் மதிப்பை உணர்த்துகிறது. குடி பழக்கம் குடும்பத்துக்கும் சமூகத்துக்கும் கெடுதல்.
Word meanings
- ஈன்றாள்īṉṟāḷmother (she who gave birth)
- முகத்தேயும்mukattēyumeven before the face
- இன்னாதுiṉṉātuis unpleasant/disgraceful
- ஆல்ālindeed
- என்eṉwhat
- மற்றுmaṟṟuthen
- சான்றோர்cāṉṟōrthe wise
- முகத்துmukattubefore the face
- களிkaḷiintoxication
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a young potter named Arun. He was known for his skillful hands, crafting beautiful clay vessels. One day, celebrating a bountiful harvest, Arun indulged in the fermented fruit drink. As the evening wore on, the drink clouded his judgment. He stumbled into the village square, singing off-key and attempting clumsy dances. His mother, her face etched with worry, watched from her doorway. Arun, oblivious, continued his revelry, even trying to playfully pull at the beard of the village elder, a respected sage known for his wisdom and calm demeanor. The sage merely smiled kindly, but Arun's mother rushed forward, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. The next morning, Arun awoke with a pounding head and a heavy heart. He avoided the square, ashamed of his actions. He knew, without a word spoken, that he had brought dishonor upon himself and his family.