Not Coveting
Patupayan Veqkip Pazhippatuva Seyyaar / Natuvanmai Naanu Pavar
Classical English couplet — “Through lust of gain, no deeds that retribution bring,Do they, who shrink with shame from every unjust thing”
What it says in plain words
“People who feel ashamed of being unfair will not take what belongs to others. They refuse such actions, even when they could gain something.”
The classical Tamil reading
நடுவுநிலைமை அல்லாதவற்றைக் கண்டு நாணி ஒதுங்குகின்றவர், பிறர் பொருளைக் கவர்வதால் வரும் பயனை விரும்பிப் பழியான செயல்களைச் செய்யார்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
நடுவுநிலை தவறுவது நாணித் தலைகுனியத் தக்கது என்று நினைப்பவர் தமக்கு ஒரு பயன் கிடைக்கும் என்பதற்காக, பழிக்கப்படும் செயலில் ஈடுபடமாட்டார்
The ethical and philosophical heart
Wanting more money or possessions can tempt us to treat others unfairly. The couplet describes people who would feel ashamed of doing this. They choose to stay fair rather than gain through wrongdoing. Their sense of fairness matters more than what they could get.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You return extra change because the money is not yours.
- Workplace
- You refuse to claim a coworker's sale to earn extra pay.
- Family
- You divide shared savings fairly instead of secretly keeping more.
- Society
- You take only your share of community supplies, leaving enough for others.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Ask whether your gain would mean taking something that belongs to someone else.
- Integrity
- Refuse unfair gains, even when nobody would notice your actions.
- Communication
- Give honest information instead of misleading someone to get their money.
- Leadership
- Share rewards fairly rather than keeping someone else's share for yourself.
- Governance
- Keep public money for public needs, not personal gain.
For leaders and teams
Show those you lead that fairness comes before personal gain. Refuse benefits that depend on taking what belongs to others.
Something to sit with
“Where might you need to choose fairness over personal gain today?”