Honour
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
mayirnīppiṉ vāḻāk kavarimā vaṉṉā / ruyirnīppar māṉam variṉ.
“Like the wild ox that, of its tuft bereft, will pine away, / Are those who, of their honour shorn, will quit the light of day.”
“The kavarima giveth up its life when it loseth its wool: there are men who are as sensitive and they put an end to their lives when they cannot save their honour.”
Like the yak that perishes if it loses a single hair, those of high honor surrender their lives when disgrace strikes.
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.
மயிர் நீப்பின் வாழாக் கவரிமா அன்னார்= தன் மயிர்த்திரளின் ஒருமயிர் நீங்கினும் உயிர் வாழாத கவரிமானை ஒப்பார்; மானம் வரின் உயிர் நீப்பர்= உயிர் நீங்கத் தான் மானம் எய்தும் எல்லைவரின், அதனைத் தாங்காது இறப்பர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Like the noble yak that cannot survive if it loses even a single hair, people of supreme honor will lay down their lives the moment disgrace befalls them.