975. What killing stains

கைகழுவ நீர்தேடும் கொன்றவன் மானமெனும்மெய்கழுவ நீரும் இலை

kaikazhuva neerthedum kondravan maanamenummeykazhuva neerum ilai

The killer seeks water to wash his hands; for the body that is his honour, there is not even water.

Killing stains more than his hands: honour is pictured as a body of its own. The Tamil word for ‘body’ also means ‘truth’.

976. Who takes the blame

நூல்நூறு கோர்த்த மணியின் ஒருமணிகீழ்விழ நூலே பழி

noolnooru kortha maniyin orumanikeezhvizha noole pazhi

A thread holds a hundred beads; when one bead falls, the blame is the thread’s alone.

977. A shared fall

தலைமை மதிப்பழிந்தால் சார்ந்தோர் மதிப்பெல்லாம்கோலோடு சாயும் குடை

thalaimai madhippazhindaal saarndor madhippellaamkolodu saayum kudai

When leadership’s honour is lost, the honour of all who rely on it goes down, as a canopy goes down with its pole.