Page:The Kural or The Maxims Of Tiruvalluvar.pdf/335

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THE KURAL

Note 3. Verse 25. Indra was smitten with the charms of Ahalya, wife of sage Gautama. One morning when the sage was away he took the form of the sage, and pretending to be her husband he induced her to yield herself to his desire. On coming to know this the sage cursed Indra with a disgusting disease.

Note 4. Verse 30. Andana, the Tamil word for Brâhman means etymologically, he who has the beautiful quality of mercy.

Note 5. Verse 292. The falsehood that is contemplated in this verse is the untruth that even the most virtuous of men will not flinch from uttering when an innocent victim has to be rescued from death, cruelty, or dishonour about to be inflicted by ruffians, and there is no other means of saving him from the same.

Note 6. Verse 401. In the game of dice, as played in India, the pieces can be moved only on a chequered board. When there is no chequered board, whatever the scores, the pieces cannot be moved at all. Similarly, even if a man should have great and valuable ideas, he would be unable to order and regulate them

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