Chapter 97: Honor

Verse 970
A man has been brought to a judge in a secure courthouse. The judge finds him guilty and offers him two choices of punishment, shown by the two fingers he holds up. The accused does not see honor in either of those choices, and he holds up a third finger on his hand to indicate he is choosing death instead of dishonoring his innocence.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver’s Wisdom

Verse 961

Shun any actions that will diminish honor,
even if they are vital for the preservation of life.

Verse 962

Those who honorably pursue glory never act ingloriously,
even if glorious fame is to be gained.

Verse 963

Cultivate modesty in the midst of good fortune,
but in times of adversity preserve your dignity.

Verse 964

Honorable men fallen from high status
are like useless hair fallen from the head.

Verse 965

Unworthy acts, though mustard-seed small, will bring down
a man, though he towers like a mountain.

Verse 966

It offers neither Earth’s renown nor Heaven’s refuge,
so why do men run after and stand by those who revile them?

Verse 967

Better to die right where you stand, the saying goes,
than to live running after those who despise you.

Verse 968

Will any medicine preserve the body of the high-born man
whose honor has already perished?

Verse 969

Shorn of its hair, the yak will refuse to live.
Such men do exist who prefer death to the loss of honor.

Verse 970

The world will extol and exalt honorable men
who exult in death rather than endure dishonor.