Kural #1001
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Tamil text
வைத்தான்வாய் சான்ற பெரும்பொருள்
அஃதுண்ணான் செத்தான் செயக்கிடந்தது இல்
Vaittāṉvāy cāṉṟa perumporuḷ
Aḵtuṇṇāṉ cettāṉ ceyakkiṭantatu il
English translation
One who hoards great wealth without enjoying it is no different from a dead man - there is nothing left to be done.
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Explanation
What is the point of accumulating vast wealth if you never use it? Such a miser is essentially dead while living. The wealth becomes meaningless if it brings no joy or benefit to anyone.
விளக்கம்
நன்றி இல்லாத செல்வம் பயனற்றது. சேர்த்து வைத்த செல்வத்தை அனுபவிக்காமல் இறப்பவன் செத்தவனே. அவன் செல்வத்தால் யாருக்கும் பயன் இல்லை. இது நன்றியில் செல்வம் அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- வைத்தான்vaittāṉone who stored
- வாய்vāyin possession
- சான்றcāṉṟaabundant
- பெரும்பொருள்perumporuḷgreat wealth
- அஃதுaḵtuthat
- உண்ணான்uṇṇāṉdoes not enjoy
- செத்தான்cettāṉis dead
- செயக்கிடந்ததுceyakkiṭantaturemaining to be done
- இல்ilis nothing
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a wealthy merchant named Silas. His warehouses overflowed with silks, spices, and jewels. Yet, Silas lived in a small, bare hut and ate meager meals. He counted every coin, fearful of spending even a single one. The villagers admired his wealth but pitied his existence. They saw him rarely, always hunched over ledgers, his face etched with worry. One harsh winter, the river froze, and crops failed. Hunger gnawed at the village. Silas, however, kept his granaries locked. When Silas fell ill, the villagers tried to help, but he refused their remedies, fearing the cost. He passed away, leaving behind a mountain of untouched wealth. His treasures remained locked, serving no purpose, benefiting no one. The villagers buried him, remembering not his riches, but the emptiness of his life.