Kural #1023
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Tamil text
நல்லாண்மை என்பதோ கொல்லாமை
கொல்லாமை நல்குரவே குன்றியக் கால்
Nallāṇmai eṉpatō kollāmai
Kollāmai nalkuravē kuṉṟiyak kāl
English translation
Is goodness merely non-killing? Even non-killing diminishes when poverty strikes.
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Explanation
True virtue encompasses more than ahimsa. When poverty hits a family, even basic virtues like not harming others become difficult to maintain due to desperation.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 1023 விளக்கம்: நல்ல ஆண்மை என்பது உயிர்களைக் கொல்லாமல் இருப்பது மட்டுமல்ல. வறுமை வந்தால், கொல்லாமை போன்ற நல்ல குணங்களும் குறைய வாய்ப்புள்ளது. குடிசெயல் வகையில், குடும்பத்தைக் காக்க வறுமையின்றி வாழ வேண்டும் என்பதே இதன் நீதி.
Word meanings
- நல்nalgood
- ஆண்மைāṇmaivirtue/manliness
- என்பதுeṉpatuwhat is called
- கொல்லாமைkollāmainot killing/non-violence
- நல்குரவுnalkuravupoverty
- குன்றியkuṉṟiyadiminishes
- கால்kālwhen/time
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a farmer named Arul. Arul was known for his kindness; he wouldn't even swat a fly. His fields yielded meager crops, but he always shared what little he had. One harsh winter, the river froze, and the harvest failed entirely. Desperation gnawed at Arul's belly. His children cried from hunger. He watched his neighbor, a baker, hoard his dwindling supply of bread, refusing to share even a crumb. Arul, usually patient, found his tongue sharpened with resentment. One evening, he saw a plump rabbit in his snare. His children's faces, pale and gaunt, swam before his eyes. He hesitated, remembering his vow of non-violence. But the thought of his starving family outweighed his usual compassion. He cooked the rabbit that night, his heart heavy. The baker, seeing the smoke, glared from his darkened window.