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Speaking with due diligence

Published - February 05, 2025 05:00 am IST

What is truth? Tamil saint poet Thiruvalluvar says truth is speech that is free from all evil (Vaimai Enappaduvadhu — kural 291). The test of truth for proper conduct is its essential harmlessness. Lanka Sri Jeyaraj said in a discourse that people might commit four types of faults in their speech: speaking unpalatable and harsh words, slandering purportedly, talking irrelevantly, and telling lies. God has bequeathed the special and unique gift of speech to human beings, which they should use properly. He who indulges in empty words is not called a man but a human chaff.

Thiruvalluvar has given guidelines to different people regarding how to speak. A household personality should speak pleasing and euphonic words to maintain friendship and relationship. Generosity and sweet words enable one to be circled by a multitude of kin (koduthalum insolum — kural-525). An ascetic should always speak the truth so that he can be unbiased and impartial. People in the administration should be able to get work done through their commanding communicative ability. Even untruth has the stamp of truthfulness; it brings good sans harmlessness (Poimmaiyum Vaimai — kural 292 ) This may be possible between the lovers.

Reading the Ramayana equals reading Thirukkural, which contains all the imports. When Rama was asked to go to the forest, Lakshmana became furious and erupted like a volcano and told Rama to decline the command of father Dasaratha — the dotard. With all patience, Rama tried to pacify and control Lakshmana’s anger with his polite reply. He told Lakshmana that he had to obey His father’s command, but Lakshmana need not listen to his elder brother’s words. Lakshmana then became calm.

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