Truthfulness
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
puṟantūymai nīrā ṉamaiyu makantūymai / vāymaiyāṟ kāṇap paṭum
“Outward purity the water will bestow; / Inward purity from truth alone will flow.”
“The cleanliness of the body belongeth unto water: but the purity of the heart is proved by truthfulness.”
Water brings cleanliness to the body's exterior; inner purity comes through truthfulness.
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.
புறம் தூய்மை நீரான் அமையும்= ஒருவனுக்கு உடம்பு தூய்தாந்தன்மை நீரானே உண்டாம்; அகம் தூய்மை வாய்மையான் காணப் படும்= அதுபோல, மனம் தூய்தாம் தன்மை வாய்மையான் உண்டாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
External cleanliness of the physical body is accomplished by washing with water, while the inner purity of the mind and heart is revealed through spotless truthfulness.