Kural #995
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Tamil text
நகையுள்ளும் இன்னா திகழ்ச்சி
பகையுள்ளும் பண்புள பாடறிவார் மாட்டு
Nakaiyuḷḷum iṉṉā tikaḻcci
Pakaiyuḷḷum paṇpuḷa pāṭaṟivār māṭṭu
English translation
Among those who understand propriety, even in jest there is no hurtful ridicule, and even in enmity there is courtesy.
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Explanation
Those who truly understand proper conduct (பாடு) avoid causing pain even in jokes. Even when dealing with enemies, they maintain courtesy. This shows that genuine refinement governs all interactions.
விளக்கம்
பண்புடைமை அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் இக்குறள், நல்ல பண்புள்ளவர்கள் எப்படி இருப்பார்கள் என்று கூறுகிறது. சிரித்து பேசும்போதும் பிறரை இகழக்கூடாது, பகை இருந்தாலும் பண்பாக நடக்க வேண்டும். சூழ்நிலை அறிந்து நடப்பதே சிறந்த குணம்.
Word meanings
- நகைnakailaughter/jest
- உள்ளும்uḷḷumeven in
- இன்னாiṉṉāpainful/hurtful
- திகழ்ச்சிtikaḻcciridicule
- பகைpakaienmity
- பண்புpaṇpucourtesy
- உளuḷais there
- பாடுpāṭupropriety
- அறிவார்aṟivārthose who know
- மாட்டுmāṭṭuamong
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village lived two merchants, Arun and Bala. They were rivals, often competing for the best goods and customers. One day, a traveling jester arrived, and the villagers gathered to watch his antics. He called for volunteers, and Arun, eager to show his bravery, stepped forward. The jester, feigning clumsiness, pretended to trip and spill a bucket of water over Arun. The crowd roared with laughter. Bala, standing nearby, saw Arun's reddening face. Instead of joining the laughter, Bala stepped forward and, with a warm smile, offered Arun a dry cloth. "Accidents happen," he said kindly. Later, when Bala himself was playfully targeted by the jester, Arun, remembering Bala's earlier kindness, simply chuckled and, with a wink, helped the jester set up his next act. The villagers saw the true measure of their hearts.