Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Ascetic Virtue (துறவறவியல்) — Veracity (வாய்மை)

Kural 291:
வாய்மை எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
தீமை இலாத சொலல்.
vaaimai enappaduvadhu yaadhenin yaadhondrum
theemai ilaadha solal
English couplet:
You ask, in lips of men what 'truth' may be;
'Tis speech from every taint of evil free.
Explanation: Truth is the speaking of such words as are free from the least degree of evil (to others).

Kural 292:
பொய்மையும் வாய்மை யிடத்த புரைதீர்ந்த
நன்மை பயக்கும் எனின்.
poimaiyum vaaimai yitaththa puraidheerndha
nanmai payakkum enin
English couplet:
Falsehood may take the place of truthful word,
If blessing, free from fault, it can afford.
Explanation: Even falsehood has the nature of truth, if it confer a benefit that is free from fault.

Kural 293:
தன்நெஞ் சறிவது பொய்யற்க பொய்த்தபின்
தன்நெஞ்சே தன்னைச் சுடும்.
thannenhj saRivadhu poiyaRka poiththapin
thannhenjae thannaich sudum
English couplet:
Speak not a word which false thy own heart knows
Self-kindled fire within the false one's spirit glows.
Explanation: Let not a man knowingly tell a lie; for after he has told the lie, his mind will burn him (with the memory of his guilt).

Kural 294:
உள்ளத்தாற் பொய்யா தொழுகின் உலகத்தார்
உள்ளத்து ளெல்லாம் உளன்.
uLLaththaaR poiyaa thozhukin ulakaththaar
uLLaththu Lellaam uLan
English couplet:
True to his inmost soul who lives,- enshrined
He lives in souls of all mankind.
Explanation: He who, in his conduct, preserves a mind free from deceit, will dwell in the minds of all men.

Kural 295:
மனத்தொடு வாய்மை மொழியின் தவத்தொடு
தானஞ்செய் வாரின் தலை.
manaththotu vaaimai mozhiyin thavaththotu
thaananjey vaarin thalai
English couplet:
Greater is he who speaks the truth with full consenting mind.
Than men whose lives have penitence and charity combined.
Explanation: He, who speaks truth with all his heart, is superior to those who make gifts and practise austerities.

Kural 296:
பொய்யாமை அன்ன புகழில்லை எய்யாமை
எல்லா அறமுந் தரும்.
poiyaamai anna pukazhillai eyyaamai
ellaa aRamunh tharum
English couplet:
No praise like that of words from falsehood free;
This every virtue yields spontaneously.
Explanation: There is no praise like the praise of never uttering a falsehood: without causing any suffering, it will lead to every virtue.

Kural 297:
பொய்யாமை பொய்யாமை ஆற்றின் அறம்பிற
செய்யாமை செய்யாமை நன்று.
poiyaamai poiyaamai aatrin aRampiRa
seyyaamai seyyaamai nandru
English couplet:
If all your life be utter truth, the truth alone,
'Tis well, though other virtuous acts be left undone.
Explanation: If a man has the power to abstain from falsehood, it will be well with him, even though he practise no other virtue.

Kural 298:
புறள்தூய்மை நீரான் அமையும் அகந்தூய்மை
வாய்மையால் காணப் படும்.
puRaLthooimai neeraan amaiyum aganthooimai
vaaimaiyaal kaaNap padum
English couplet:
Outward purity the water will bestow;
Inward purity from truth alone will flow.
Explanation: Purity of body is produced by water and purity of mind by truthfulness.

Kural 299:
எல்லா விளக்கும் விளக்கல்ல சான்றோர்க்குப்
பொய்யா விளக்கே விளக்கு.
ellaa viLakkum viLlakkalla saandroarkkup
poiyaa viLakkae viLakku
English couplet:
Every lamp is not a lamp in wise men's sight;
That's the lamp with truth's pure radiance bright.
Explanation: All lamps of nature are not lamps; the lamp of truth is the lamp of the wise.

Kural 300:
யாமெய்யாக் கண்டவற்றுள் இல்லை எனைத்தொன்றும்
வாய்மையின் நல்ல பிற.
yaameyyaak kaNtavatruL illai enaiththondrum
vaaimaiyin nalla piRa
English couplet:
Of all good things we've scanned with studious care,
There's nought that can with truthfulness compare.
Explanation: Amidst all that we have seen (described) as real (excellence), there is nothing so good as truthfulness.