குற்றங்கடிதல்
The Correction of Faults
Read all ten original Tamil couplets from this chapter with clear, modern interpretations for everyday learning.
Kurals
431–440
Reading
10 couplets
Section
பொருட்பால்
A simple reading path
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Tamil + modern meaning
Kural 431
1 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
செருக்குஞ் சினமும் சிறுமையும் இல்லார்
பெருக்கம் பெருமித நீர்த்து.
Modern interpretation
A leader becomes truly great by keeping pride, anger, and degrading desires under control. For example, a manager who accepts criticism calmly earns more respect than one who uses power to intimidate people.
Read Kural 431 in full
Kural 432
2 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
இவறலும் மாண்பிறந்த மானமும் மாணா
உவகையும் ஏதம் இறைக்கு.
Modern interpretation
A leader is weakened by hoarding what others need, clinging to empty pride, or enjoying harmful pleasures. For example, a club leader who keeps all the funds, rejects good advice, and humiliates volunteers damages the whole group.
Read Kural 432 in full
Kural 433
3 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
தினைத்துணையாங் குற்றம் வரினும் பனைத்துணையாக்
கொள்வர் பழிநாணு வார்.
Modern interpretation
People who care about their good name treat even a tiny wrong as something serious. For example, they correct a copied sentence in an assignment instead of telling themselves that a small piece of cheating does not matter.
Read Kural 433 in full
Kural 434
4 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
குற்றமே காக்க பொருளாகக் குற்றமே
அற்றந் த்ரூஉம் பகை.
Modern interpretation
A person's own faults are a more dangerous enemy than any outside rival, so protecting character must come first. For example, stopping a small lie before it grows into a cover-up can save a whole team's trust.
Read Kural 434 in full
Kural 435
5 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
வருமுன்னர்க் காவாதான் வாழ்க்கை எரிமுன்னர்
வைத்தூறு போலக் கெடும்.
Modern interpretation
A life can collapse quickly when warning signs are ignored instead of being dealt with early. For example, refusing to repair a small leak may leave a home badly damaged after the next storm.
Read Kural 435 in full
Kural 436
6 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
தன்குற்றம் நீக்கிப் பிறர்குற்றங் காண்கிற்பின்
என்குற்ற மாகும் இறைக்கு?
Modern interpretation
Before judging other people's faults, a leader should remove the same faults from their own conduct. For example, a team captain should admit being late before demanding better punctuality from everyone else.
Read Kural 436 in full
Kural 437
7 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
செயற்பால செய்யா திவறியான் செல்வம்
உயற்பால தன்றிக் கெடும்.
Modern interpretation
Wealth that is hoarded instead of being used for its rightful purposes eventually becomes useless or disappears. For example, an organisation that saves every coin but never maintains its equipment may lose the very resources it meant to protect.
Read Kural 437 in full
Kural 438
8 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
பற்றுள்ளம் என்னும் இவறன்மை எற்றுள்ளும்
எண்ணப் படுவதொன் றன்று.
Modern interpretation
Extreme stinginess is more than an ordinary fault because it prevents wealth from doing any good. For example, someone who refuses every necessary repair may eventually lose far more than the cost of fixing the problem.
Read Kural 438 in full
Kural 439
9 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
வியவற்க எஞ்ஞான்றும் தன்னை நயவற்க
நன்றி பயவா வினை.
Modern interpretation
Do not become dazzled by your own importance, and do not chase actions that bring no real benefit. For example, a team leader can skip a flashy project for likes and choose work that genuinely helps people.
Read Kural 439 in full
Kural 440
10 of 10Tamil original · தமிழ்
காதல காதல் அறியாமை உய்க்கிற்பின்
ஏதில ஏதிலார் நூல்.
Modern interpretation
Keep important plans private until they are ready, because careless disclosure can give opponents a chance to interfere. For example, a small business may protect a new product idea until it is prepared to launch it.
Read Kural 440 in full