Kural #969
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Tamil text
மயிர்நீப்பின் வாழாக் கவரிமா
அன்னார் உயிர்நீப்பர் மானம் வரின்
Mayirnīppiṉ vāḻāk kavarimā
Aṉṉār uyirnīppar māṉam variṉ
English translation
Like the yak that dies if its hair is plucked, the honorable will give up life if their honor is touched.
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Explanation
A powerful simile: the கவரிமா (yak/Tibetan ox) dies if its hair is pulled. Similarly, truly honorable people (மான உடையார்) will sacrifice life (உயிர் நீப்பர்) rather than lose honor.
விளக்கம்
கவரிமா முடி போனால் இறக்கும். அதுபோல், மானம் போனால் உயிர் வாழார் நல்லோர். மானம் காக்க உயிர் விடுதலே மேல். இது மானம் அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- மயிர்mayirhair
- நீப்பின்nīppiṉif removed
- வாழாvāḻāwill not live
- கவரிமாkavarimāyak (Tibetan ox)
- அன்னார்aṉṉārlike those
- உயிர்uyirlife
- நீப்பர்nīpparwill leave
- மானம்māṉamhonor
- வரின்variṉif it comes (to be harmed)
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arun. He was known for his honesty, a trait as strong as the oak trees he felled. One day, the greedy merchant, Karpagam, offered Arun a pouch of gold if he would falsely accuse a rival of stealing. Arun looked at the gold, then at the merchant’s expectant face. The gold could feed his family for months, but the thought of betraying his friend felt like a splinter in his heart. He thought of his village, where truth was the foundation of their lives. "I cannot," Arun finally said, his voice firm. "My honor is more valuable than any treasure." Karpagam scoffed and stormed away, muttering threats. Days later, the merchant spread lies, seeking to ruin Arun's reputation. Despite losing work and facing hardship, Arun stood tall, never wavering from the truth. His integrity shone brighter than any gold, and eventually, the villagers saw Karpagam's deceit and shunned him. Arun’s honesty, like a strong tree, remained unyielding against the storm.