Tirukkural-On Virtue-Good Reputation-Kural 238

Add as a preferred source on Google

If, in the final analysis, one fails to earn the esteem of the public One is sure to get the blame of all the world.

If a man, by his good works, does not build up a lasting reputation he should not be surprised if a measure of blame also attaches to him automatically.

Valluvar's use of the two words 'Isai' and 'Vasai' for 'praise' and 'blame' is felicitous. One would think that there can be people, who have just done indifferently or averagely in life, without praise or blame. But Valluvar's view is that the circumstances, that account for the very absence of praise, themselves render a man blame-worthy, for it would be a case of under-utilisation of God-given talents in one direction or the other. He should not, therefore, be surprised if people scorn him. According to the parable of the talents even divine judgment would be adverse in such a case.

(Matt. 25, 14-30)

Another point of importance here, is the use of the word 'Echcham' to mean 'resultant reputation'. I have discussed the meaning of the word in some detail in my commentary in Kural 114, where I have preferred this meaning to the other one of 'Children'.