Kural #1004
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Tamil text
எச்சமென்று என்எண்ணுங் கொல்லோ
ஒருவரால் நச்சப் படாஅ தவன்
Eccameṉṟu eṉeṇṇuṅ kollō
Oruvarāl naccap paṭāa tavaṉ
English translation
What legacy can one hope for who is not loved by a single person?
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Explanation
A rhetorical question that strikes at the heart of miserly existence: what remains after death for someone whom nobody loves? Wealth hoarded without generosity leaves no positive legacy - no one to remember or honor the miser.
விளக்கம்
ஒருவராலும் விரும்பப்படாத ஒருத்தர் என்ன சொத்தை விட்டுட்டுப் போக முடியும்? நன்றியில்லாத செல்வம் இருந்தும் பயனில்லை. அன்பும் கருணையும்தான் நிலையான செல்வம் என்பதை இந்தக் குறள் உணர்த்துது. இது நன்றியில் செல்வம் அதிகாரத்தில் வருகிறது.
Word meanings
- எச்சம்eccamlegacy/remainder
- என்றுeṉṟusaying/as
- என்eṉwhat
- எண்ணும்eṇṇumthinks
- கொல்லோkollō(rhetorical particle)
- ஒருவரால்oruvarālby anyone
- நச்சப்படாதவன்naccappaṭātavaṉone not loved
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a shimmering river lived a wealthy merchant named Silas. His granaries overflowed with grain, his coffers clinked with gold, yet his heart remained a barren wasteland. Silas spent his days counting his fortunes, guarding them jealously, never offering a helping hand or a kind word. When a devastating drought struck, the villagers pleaded with Silas for grain. He refused, fearing to diminish his wealth. The villagers suffered greatly. When Silas eventually passed, his riches were left untouched, locked away in his cold, empty house. No mourners gathered at his funeral. No one spoke of his kindness, for it never existed. The villagers, relieved the drought had finally ended, quickly forgot the name of the man who had possessed so much, yet left nothing of value behind. The river flowed on, reflecting the uncaring sky.