137. Ashamed beside excellence

மாநரம்பு மீட்டியதைக் கேட்டுத் தெளிந்தபின்தான்மீட்டும் நாணும் விரல்

maanarambu meettiyadhaik kettudh thelindapinthaanmeettum naanum viral

Once it has heard the great string played and known its worth, the finger plucks in turn, and is ashamed.

The finger stands for the one who plays: having heard great playing, it now plucks its own string.

138. Speaking shame shrinks it

சொல்லுக நாணைச் சொலச்சிறுகும் சொல்லாக்கால்நில்லாது வீங்கும் வடு

solluka naanais solaschirukum sollaakkaalnillaadhu veengum vadu

Speak your shame: spoken, it shrinks; unspoken, its scar swells unchecked.

139. Fear holds us still

மழையினுள் ஓடுவார் நையார் நனையும்பழியஞ்சி நின்றார் உடல்

mazhaiyinul oduvaar naiyaar nanaiyumpazhiyanji nindraar udal

Those who run on through the rain are not undone by it; those who stand still for fear of blame are soaked.

The one who stands still in the rain only stays in it longer. The Tamil verb for ‘undone’ also means ‘soaked soft’.