Truthfulness
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poymaiyum vāymai yiṭatta puraitīrnta / naṉmai payakku meṉiṉ
“Falsehood may take the place of truthful word, / If blessing, free from fault, it can afford.”
“Even falsehood is of the nature of truth if it bringeth forth unmixed good.”
Even a false statement may stand with truth if—and only if—it produces a good wholly free from fault.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
புரை தீர்ந்த நன்மை பயக்கும் எனின்= பிறர்க்கு; குற்றந் தீர்ந்த நன்மையைப் பயக்குமாயின்; பொய்ம்மையும் வாய்மை இடத்த=; பொய்ம்மைச் சொற்களும் மெய்ம்மைச் சொற்களின்பாலவாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even an untrue statement is regarded as having the noble status of truthfulness, if it brings about flawless and unblemished good to others.
This verse is in tension
AI draft · pending scholar review