Not Coveting
Ventarka Veqkiyaam Aakkam Vilaivayin / Maantar Karidhaam Payan
Classical English couplet — “Seek not increase by greed of gain acquired;That fruit matured yields never good desired”
What it says in plain words
“Do not seek wealth by taking what belongs to others. Wealth gained this way rarely brings anything truly good.”
The classical Tamil reading
பிறர் பொருளைக் கவர விரும்புவதால் ஆகும் ஆக்கத்தை விரும்பாதிருக்க வேண்டும்; அது பயன் விளைவிக்கும்போது அப்பயன் நன்மையாவது அரிதாகும்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
பிறர் பொருளைக் கவர்ந்து ஒருவன் வளம்பெற விரும்பினால் அந்த வளத்தின் பயன், நலம் தருவதாக இருக்காது
The ethical and philosophical heart
Wanting someone else's belongings can make taking them seem worthwhile. But gaining more does not mean your life becomes better. The couplet asks us to look beyond the immediate gain. Think about the real good that wealth will bring.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You return a lost wallet instead of keeping the money.
- Workplace
- You leave shared equipment at work instead of taking it home for yourself.
- Family
- You respect your sibling's share of family money instead of trying to claim it.
- Society
- Neighbors leave public land open instead of fencing it into their own gardens.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Before seeking a gain, ask whether it takes something that belongs to someone else.
- Integrity
- Leave money that belongs to others untouched, even when nobody is watching.
- Communication
- Speak honestly about who owns something when discussing how to share it.
- Leadership
- Do not push your team to gain by taking what belongs to others.
- Governance
- Keep public money for public needs, not personal wealth.
For leaders and teams
Teach those you lead that not every gain brings good. Show this by respecting what belongs to other people.
Something to sit with
“Where could you focus less on having more and more on what truly brings good?”