Kural #984
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Tamil text
கொல்லா நலத்தது நோன்மை
பிறர்தீமை சொல்லா நலத்தது சால்பு
Kollā nalattatu nōṉmai
Piṟartīmai collā nalattatu cālpu
English translation
The excellence of penance is non-killing; the excellence of nobility is not speaking ill of others.
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Explanation
Two profound definitions: true asceticism (நோன்மை) means abstaining from killing any creature. True nobility (சால்பு) means never speaking ill of others. These are the essential qualities of each path.
விளக்கம்
கொல்லாமை தவத்தின் சிறப்பு; பிறர் குறைகளைச் சொல்லாமை சான்றாண்மை. பிற உயிர்களை வதைக்காமல் இருத்தலே உண்மையான தவம். பிறரைப் பற்றித் தவறாகப் பேசாமல் இருப்பது உயர்ந்த குணம். இது சான்றாண்மை அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கிய கருத்து.
Word meanings
- கொல்லாkollānot killing
- நலத்ததுnalattatuis the excellence of
- நோன்மைnōṉmaipenance/asceticism
- பிறர்piṟarothers'
- தீமைtīmaievil/faults
- சொல்லாcollānot speaking
- சால்புcālpunobility
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Tharan and Keerthi. Tharan, a hunter, was known for his strength. He could fell a wild boar with a single arrow. Keerthi, however, was known for his kindness. He never harmed a creature, and his words were always gentle. One day, a merchant arrived, spreading rumors about a neighboring village, claiming they were greedy and dishonest. The villagers, stirred by the merchant’s words, began to distrust their neighbors. Tharan, fueled by the gossip, prepared to raid the neighboring village, intending to seize their goods. Keerthi, hearing his brother's plan, pleaded with him. "Why do you believe these words? Have you seen this greed yourself?" he asked. Tharan scoffed, dismissing his brother's concerns. Keerthi then visited the neighboring village and discovered the merchant's words were lies. He returned and told Tharan what he had learned. Tharan, ashamed, abandoned his plan. The villagers, too, realized their error, and peace was restored.