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கூடா ஒழுக்கம்: Imposture
About this chapter
கூடா ஒழுக்கம், imposture, is about people who put on the outward marks of a holy life while their minds remain unchanged. The chapter's test is conduct: what matters is what a person does, not how he looks.
Kural 271 says that the five elements of the body laugh within a deceitful man's false conduct. Kural 272 asks what use a heavenly appearance is if one's own heart knows its fault, and Kural 273 gives the image of a cow grazing in a tiger's skin. Kural 274 compares a false ascetic who hides to do wrong to a bird-catcher lurking in a thicket. Kural 275 says that those who claim to have renounced all but secretly misbehave will cry out in regret, and Kural 276 calls them the hardest-hearted of men. Kurals 277 and 278 add two more pictures: the kunri berry, red outside with a black tip, and the many who perform ritual bathing while the mind stays unclean. Kural 279 gives the working rule: the arrow is straight but cruel, the lute is crooked but sweet, so judge people by their deeds. Kural 280 ends by saying a shaven head or long hair is unnecessary if one gives up what the world condemns.
Kural 279 is the most useful, and Kural 280 the most direct statement of the theme.
For the syllabus, the chapter fits universal values, since it separates appearance from conduct.
The 10 kurals of கூடா ஒழுக்கம்
Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.
வஞ்ச மனத்தான் படிற்றொழுக்கம் பூதங்கள்
ஐந்தும் அகத்தே நகும்.
Vanja Manaththaan Patitrozhukkam Poodhangal
Aindhum Akaththe Nakum
Who with deceitful mind in false way walks of covert sin, The five-fold elements his frame compose, decide within
வானுயர் தோற்றம் எவன்செய்யும் தன்னெஞ்சம்
தான்அறி குற்றப் படின்.
Vaanuyar Thotram Evanseyyum Thannenjam
Thaanari Kutrap Patin
What gain, though virtue's semblance high as heaven his fame exalt, If heart dies down through sense of self-detected fault
வலியில் நிலைமையான் வல்லுருவம் பெற்றம்
புலியின்தோல் போர்த்துமேய்ந் தற்று.
Valiyil Nilaimaiyaan Valluruvam Petram
Puliyindhol Porththumeyn Thatru
As if a steer should graze wrapped round with tiger's skin, Is show of virtuous might when weakness lurks within
தவமறைந்து அல்லவை செய்தல் புதல்மறைந்து
வேட்டுவன் புள்சிமிழ்த் தற்று.
Thavamaraindhu Allavai Seydhal Pudhalmaraindhu
Vettuvan Pulsimizhth Thatru
'Tis as a fowler, silly birds to snare, in thicket lurksWhen, clad in stern ascetic garb, one secret evil works
பற்றற்றேம் என்பார் படிற்றொழுக்கம் எற்றெற்றென்று
ஏதம் பலவுந் தரும்.
Patratrem Enpaar Patitrozhukkam Etretrendru
Edham Palavun Tharum
'Our souls are free,' who say, yet practise evil secretly,'What folly have we wrought!' by many shames o'er-whelmed, shall cry
நெஞ்சின் துறவார் துறந்தார்போல் வஞ்சித்து
வாழ்வாரின் வன்கணார் இல்.
Nenjin Thuravaar Thurandhaarpol Vanjiththu
Vaazhvaarin Vankanaar Il
In mind renouncing nought, in speech renouncing every tie, Who guileful live,- no men are found than these of 'harder eye'
புறங்குன்றி கண்டனைய ரேனும் அகங்குன்றி
முக்கிற் கரியார் உடைத்து.
Purangundri Kantanaiya Renum Akangundri
Mukkir Kariyaar Utaiththu
Outward, they shine as 'kunri' berry's scarlet bright; Inward, like tip of 'kunri' bead, as black as night
மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார் நீராடி
மறைந்தொழுகு மாந்தர் பலர்.
Manaththadhu Maasaaka Maantaar Neeraati
Maraindhozhuku Maandhar Palar
Many wash in hollowed waters, living lives of hidden shame; Foul in heart, yet high upraised of men in virtuous fame
கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல்.
Kanaikotidhu Yaazhkotu Sevvidhuaang Kanna
Vinaipatu Paalaal Kolal
Cruel is the arrow straight, the crooked lute is sweet, Judge by their deeds the many forms of men you meet
மழித்தலும் நீட்டலும் வேண்டா உலகம்
பழித்தது ஒழித்து விடின்.
Mazhiththalum Neettalum Ventaa Ulakam
Pazhiththadhu Ozhiththu Vitin
What's the worth of shaven head or tresses long, If you shun what all the world condemns as wrong
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