Kural #986
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Tamil text
சால்பிற்குக் கட்டளை யாதெனின்
தோல்வி துலையல்லார் கண்ணும் கொளல்
Cālpiṟkuk kaṭṭaḷai yāteṉiṉ
Tōlvi tulaiyallār kaṇṇum koḷal
English translation
The touchstone of nobility is accepting defeat even from those who are not one's equals.
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Explanation
True nobility is tested not when dealing with superiors, but when dealing with inferiors. The noble gracefully accept correction even from those below them in status. This humility before all is the hallmark of genuine character.
விளக்கம்
சான்றாண்மை உடையவரின் அடையாளம், தமக்குச் சமமில்லாதவர்களிடம் கூடத் தோல்வியை ஒப்புக்கொள்வதுதான். "சான்றாண்மை" அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். யார் சொன்னாலும், தவறுகளைத் திருத்திக்கொள்வது பெருந்தன்மை. பணிவு உயர்வைத் தரும்.
Word meanings
- சால்பிற்குcālpiṟkufor nobility
- கட்டளைkaṭṭaḷaitouchstone/test
- யாதுyātuwhat
- எனின்eṉiṉif asked
- தோல்விtōlvidefeat/being wrong
- துலைtulaiequal
- அல்லார்allārthose who are not
- கண்ணும்kaṇṇumeven from
- கொளல்koḷalaccepting
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a renowned potter named Kumar. His clay creations were celebrated throughout the land. One day, a young apprentice, barely skilled, clumsily dropped a heavy pot, shattering it before Kumar's eyes. The apprentice, trembling, braced for a harsh scolding. But Kumar simply sighed, surveyed the broken pieces, and then calmly said, "The clay was too dry; my mistake." Word of Kumar's response spread. Soon, the King heard of it, and summoned Kumar to the palace. The King, known for his pride, was curious. He presented Kumar with a flawed, misshapen golden goblet, expecting the potter to criticize it. Kumar examined the goblet carefully. He smiled and said, "The goldsmith was hasty, your Majesty. The metal needed more refinement." The King, humbled by Kumar's lack of arrogance, learned a valuable lesson that day.