The Hidden Phone: What One Thirukkural Taught a Family About Honesty

“Senthil, where is my mobile? Did you take it?” asked Appa.

“No, daddy, I didn’t take it,” answered Senthil.

Making calls to that phone from Amma’s cell was also of no use. Appa’s mobile could not be located; it might be in silent mode.

After a long search, Appa’s mobile was found. It was in Senthil’s book cupboard.

Appa had never thought about searching in Senthil’s book cupboard. He was searching the places around that cupboard. Some light… flashing light… could be seen amidst the books in the book cupboard.

“Some light? What is glowing? Some toy, I think, kept in between the books,” thought Appa. He moved the books to pick up that glowing object.

Lo! It was his mobile! Appa was extremely angry.

“You have only taken it, Senthil! You have hidden it in the cupboard after playing, right? You could have at least taken it and given it to me when I asked for it. Wait, just see what I will do now,” roared Appa.

Raising his hands, he came closer to Senthil.

“Papa, don’t beat me, Appa! Really, I did not take the mobile, Appa,” said Senthil in a loud voice.

“Lying. You are lying. How could it be found among your books? You had taken the mobile. After playing with it, you had kept it in your book cupboard.”

“No, Papa, I didn’t take it. I don’t know how it had reached my cupboard.” Senthil started crying.

Senthil’s mother, Divya, had gone for shopping. She reached home at that time.

“Look at this fellow, Divya. He had taken my mobile and strongly maintains that he did not take it,” said Appa.

“Yes, Senthil, speak the truth. When I was leaving for the market, I saw you sending some message to your friend. Appa’s mobile was in your hand. Why don’t you tell the truth?” asked Amma.

The cries of Senthil became louder and stronger.

“Ok, have you forgotten using Appa’s mobile?” asked Amma.

Senthil nodded his head as if he had forgotten it.

His parents looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.

A bar of chocolate was missing from the fridge two days before. The parents asked Senthil whether he had taken it. Senthil denied taking it, but the smell of the chocolate was coming out of his mouth even at that moment.

That Senthil was lying was beyond any doubt.

Amma took a sheet of paper. She wrote a few lines on it and gave it to Senthil.

“Senthil, there is a powerful magic chant written on it. Read it and memorise it,” said Amma.

“What is that powerful chant, Divya?” asked Appa.

“Read it once, Senthil,” said Amma.

Senthil read what was written on the paper. It was a Thirukkural about truthfulness.

In English, it goes like this:

“All lamps of nature are not lamps; the lamp of truth is the lamp of the wise.”

“Wow! Thirukkural! Senthil, bring the Thirukkural book from the shelf and check it. It is the 299th Thirukkural. What does it mean, do you know?” asked Appa.

“All lamps that drive away the darkness are not lamps in the real sense. The wise men consider that the lamp which glows by the power of truthfulness indeed is the true lamp,” said Amma.

“Mm, in short, truth alone radiates. Truth should be our guiding light,” said Appa.

“Hereafter I will not lie. I will speak the truth, Appa,” wept Senthil.

“That’s my sweet child, my little one, don’t cry.” Amma hugged Senthil.

“My little one, just this is what we expect from you,” Appa comforted Senthil.