Old Tamil Poetry

Nanmanik Kadigai – 48

Fragrance reveals presence of a flower;
Uttered words reveal one’s ability;
If examined, mind reveals its evils; nothing reveals
thoughts in advance like one’s face.

நாற்றம் உரைக்கும், மலர் உண்மை; கூறிய
மாற்றம் உரைக்கும், வினை நலம்; தூக்கின்,
அகம் பொதிந்த தீமை மனம் உரைக்கும்; முன்னம்
முகம் போல முன் உரைப்பது இல்.

Presence of a flower is known by its fragrance. Similarly one’s ability to do a works is revealed by words he uses. When one looks into his mind and examines closely, his evil thoughts are revealed to himself. Nothing reveals one’s thoughts to the world like his face.