Panbu
Content
Meaning of Character
Character (Panbu) refers to a person's good qualities, behavior, and conduct. It is the trait that distinguishes one person from others.
Simple Explanation:
- Character = Good qualities, good behavior, good nature
- Speaking respectfully
- Behaving without hurting others
- Living honestly
Types of Character Traits
1. Good Speech
- Speaking softly
- Avoiding harsh words
- Using pleasant words
2. Humility
- Respecting elders
- Not showing off
- Conducting oneself simply
3. Honesty
- Speaking truth
- Being without deceit
- Living an honest life
4. Mental Strength
- Not giving up in difficulties
- Acting with effort
- Being hopeful
5. Gentleness
- Not getting angry
- Being patient
- Behaving with love
Excellence of Good Character
1. Character Brings Fame
- People with good character are respected by all
- Gain good reputation in society
- Get good status among people
2. Character Develops Relationships
- Everyone wants to associate with people of good character
- Circle of friends expands
- Relationships last long
3. Character Brings Success
- People with good character progress in life
- Help from others comes easily
- Attain high position in society
Character in Thirukkural
Chapter Number: 99
Kural Numbers: 981-990
Iyal: Natpiyal
Paal: Porutpaal
Key Concept:
Thiruvalluvar states character as the most important quality of a person. He says that those with good character are the truly great people.
Simple Examples
1. Student with Good Character:
Treats teacher with respect
Listens carefully in class
Helps fellow students
Doesn't tell lies
This is character!
2. Employee with Good Character:
Does work honestly
Respects superiors
Gets along well with colleagues
Comes on time
This is character!
3. Leader with Good Character:
Treats subordinates well
Treats everyone equally
Manages honestly
Doesn't show off
This is character!
Signs of Good Character
✓ Soft speech
✓ Humble behavior
✓ Honest living
✓ Patient nature
✓ Loving disposition
✓ Mind without anger
✓ Compassion for others
✓ Helpful attitude
Important for TNPSC Exam
Remember:
- Character chapter number: 99
- Kural numbers: 981 to 990
- Total kurals: 10
- Iyal: Natpiyal
- Paal: Porutpaal
Kural 981
Aatruvaar Aatral Panithal Athusaanror
Maatrarai Maatrum Padai
Simple Meaning:
The strength of great people is humility. That humility is the weapon by which noble people conquer their enemies.
For Students:
Humility is the greatest strength. People with humility can turn even enemies into friends.
Kural 982
Aatrin Varupavar Aare Ezhilnalam
Saatrin Mugaththir Thavar
Simple Meaning:
Who can come like those whose character makes beauty appear on their face?
For Students:
Good character brings beauty to one's face. People with character appear beautiful.
Kural 983
Nayanodu Nandri Purindha Payanudaiyaar
Panpinaal Paangupad Daar
Simple Meaning:
Those who do good with justice, who are useful, are elevated by their good character.
For Students:
Those who do justice and good deeds have good character. These are the useful people.
Kural 984
Nagaiyullum Innaa Thigaazhamai Vankannar
Panpin Migu Theera Vidai
Simple Meaning:
Not speaking evil even in humor, completely abandoning the character of cruel people.
For Students:
Even when speaking humorously, don't say words that hurt others. This is good character.
Kural 985
Nagalvallar Allaarku Maayiru Gnaalam
Pagalum Irundaam Idai
Simple Meaning:
For those who cannot be cheerful, both these worlds remain dark even during daytime.
For Students:
Life becomes dark for those without cheerful character. Good character makes life bright.
Kural 986
Panpilaan Petra Perunjelvam Nanpaal
Kalandheemai Yaalthrindhatru
Simple Meaning:
The great wealth obtained by one without character is like poison mixed in good milk.
For Students:
If someone without character has wealth, it's dangerous like poison in milk. Wealth needs character too.
Kural 987
Ariya Pirappay Palarkkanin Thaaanmai
Panpinmai Koodiya Thaam
Simple Meaning:
The rare birth seen by many, the high birth, becomes joined with lack of generosity and lack of character.
For Students:
Even if born in a high family, it's wasted without character. Character is more important than birth.
Kural 988
Nagaiyum Uvakaiyum Kollum Sirrumaiyum
Panpin Maraippaam Kunam
Simple Meaning:
Meanness is a quality that kills laughter and joy, and hides character.
For Students:
Mean nature destroys happiness and hides good character. So avoid mean nature.
Kural 989
Nagalutrum Nandru Kilararka Nothal
Pagalil Perumpaavam Undu
Simple Meaning:
Even when happy, don't speak of evil things. Hurting others is a great sin.
For Students:
Even when happy, don't speak words that cause pain to others. This is a big mistake.
Kural 990
Paniyumaam Endrum Perumai Sirumai
Aniyumaam Thannai Viyandhu
Simple Meaning:
Humility always adorns greatness. Meanness adorns itself by praising itself.
For Students:
People with humility are great. Those who praise themselves are small people.
Fill in the Blanks Practice
1. Aatruvaar Aatral ________ Athusaanror
Answer: Panithal
2. Maatrarai Maatrum ________
Answer: Padai
3. Ezhilnalam Saatrin ________ Thavar
Answer: Mugaththir
4. Panpinaal ________ Daar
Answer: Paangupad
5. Nagaiyullum Innaa ________
Answer: Thigaazhamai
6. Panpilaan Petra ________
Answer: Perunjelvam
7. Nanpaal Kalandheemai Yaal ________
Answer: Thrindhatru
8. Panpinmai ________ Thaam
Answer: Koodiya
9. Nagaiyum Uvakaiyum ________ Sirrumaiyum
Answer: Kollum
10. Paniyumaam Endrum ________
Answer: Perumai
Section A: Quotation Questions (15)
1. "Aatruvaar Aatral Panithal" - Which chapter contains this kural?
Answer: Panbu (Character) chapter
2. Which kural numbers contain the Panbu chapter?
Answer: 981 to 990
3. "Panpilaan Petra Perunjelvam" - What is the meaning?
Answer: Great wealth obtained by one without character is like poison
4. "Nagaiyum Uvakaiyum Kollum" - What kills?
Answer: Meanness (Sirumai)
5. In which Iyal is the Panbu chapter?
Answer: Natpiyal
6. "Aatrin Varupavar Aare" - What is this about?
Answer: Character that brings beauty to the face
7. In which Paal is the Panbu chapter?
Answer: Porutpaal
8. "Paniyumaam Endrum Perumai" - What is the meaning?
Answer: Humility always adorns greatness
9. How many kurals are there in Panbu chapter?
Answer: 10 kurals
10. "Nayanodu Nandri Purindha" - About whom is this?
Answer: Those who do good with justice
11. What does Kural 981 say about?
Answer: Humility is the strength of great people
12. "Maatrarai Maatrum Padai" - What is this?
Answer: Humility
13. What is the chapter number of Panbu?
Answer: 99
14. "Nagalutrum Nandru Kilararka" - What is the meaning?
Answer: Don't speak of evil things even when happy
15. How does Thiruvalluvar describe character?
Answer: As the most important quality of a person
Section B: Fill in the Blanks (20)
1. Aatruvaar Aatral ________ Athusaanror
Answer: Panithal
2. Maatrarai Maatrum ________
Answer: Padai
3. Aatrin Varupavar ________ Ezhilnalam
Answer: Aare
4. Saatrin Mugaththir ________
Answer: Thavar
5. Nayanodu Nandri ________
Answer: Purindha
6. Panpinaal ________ Daar
Answer: Paangupad
7. Nagaiyullum Innaa ________
Answer: Thigaazhamai
8. Panpin Migu Theera ________
Answer: Vidai
9. Nagalvallar ________ Ku Maayiru Gnaalam
Answer: Allaar
10. Pagalum Irundaam ________
Answer: Idai
11. Panpilaan Petra ________
Answer: Perunjelvam
12. Nanpaal Kalandheemai Yaal ________
Answer: Thrindhatru
13. Ariya Pirappay ________ Kkanin
Answer: Palar
14. Panpinmai ________ Thaam
Answer: Koodiya
15. Nagaiyum Uvakaiyum ________
Answer: Kollum
16. Panpin Maraippaam ________
Answer: Kunam
17. Nagalutrum Nandru ________
Answer: Kilararka
18. Pagalil Perumpaavam ________
Answer: Undu
19. Paniyumaam Endrum ________
Answer: Perumai
20. Aniyumaam Thannai ________
Answer: Viyandhu
Section C: Match the Following (10)
1. Aatruvaar Aatral Panithal - Humility is strength
2. Ezhilnalam Saatrin Mugaththir - Character brings beauty
3. Panpilaan Petra Perunjelvam - Poison in milk
4. Nagaiyum Uvakaiyum Kollum - Meanness
5. Paniyumaam Endrum Perumai - Humility is greatness
6. Nayanodu Nandri Purindha - Justice and goodness
7. Nagalutrum Nandru Kilararka - Not speaking evil
8. Ariya Pirappay Palarkkanin - Lack of character
9. Nagalvallar Allaarku - Dark life
10. Maatrarai Maatrum Padai - Humility
Section D: True or False (10)
1. Panbu chapter is in Araththuppaal
Answer: False (It's in Porutpaal)
2. There are 10 kurals in Panbu chapter
Answer: True
3. Panbu chapter number is 98
Answer: False (It's 99)
4. Panbu chapter is in kurals 981-990
Answer: True
5. Wealth of one without character is good
Answer: False (It's like poison in milk)
6. Humility is the strength of great people
Answer: True
7. Meanness brings happiness
Answer: False (It kills happiness)
8. Panbu chapter is in Illaraviyal
Answer: False (It's in Natpiyal)
9. Character brings beauty to the face
Answer: True
10. Humility is meanness
Answer: False (Humility is greatness)
Section E: Short Answers (5)
1. State the importance of character.
Answer: Character is the most important quality of a person. People with good character are respected in society. Character alone makes one truly great.
2. What is the excellence of humility?
Answer: Humility is the strength of great people. Humility can turn even enemies into friends. People with humility always gain greatness.
3. Why is the wealth of one without character dangerous?
Answer: The wealth obtained by one without character is like poison mixed in good milk. He will use his wealth in wrong ways. Therefore, wealth needs character too.
4. "Nagaiyum Uvakaiyum Kollum Sirumaiyum" - Explain.
Answer: Mean nature kills happiness and humor. It hides good character. Therefore, one should abandon mean nature.
5. What is the position of Panbu chapter in Thirukkural?
Answer:
- Chapter number: 99
- Kural numbers: 981-990
- Iyal: Natpiyal
- Paal: Porutpaal