Shame and Self-Respect
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
karumattā ṉāṇuta ṉāṇut tirunuta / ṉallavar nāṇup piṟa.
“To shrink abashed from evil deed is 'generous shame'; / Other is that of bright-browed one of virtuous fame.”
“The blush of the worthy is for action that become them not: it is therefore quite different to the blush of the fair.”
True moral shame is shrinking from shameful deeds; all other modesty is mere ordinary shyness.
Ask about this Kural
Answers are drawn only from this Kural's sourced text and named commentary, and always cite what they used.
Choose a section
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நாணுக் கருமத்தால் நாணுதல்= நன்மக்கள் நாணாவது இழிந்த கருமம் காரணமாக நாணுதல்; பிறதிருநுதல் நல்லவர் நாணு= அஃதன்றி மன மொழி மெய்கள் தொடுக்கத்தான் வருவனவோ எனின், அவை அவரளவல்ல, அழகிய நுதலினை உடைய குலமகளிர் நாண்கள்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
True moral shame is shrinking in conscience from committing shameful acts; all other forms of blushing or shyness are merely ordinary modesty.