Kural #104
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Tamil text
தினைத்துணை நன்றி செயினும்
பனைத்துணையாக் கொள்வர் பயன்தெரி வார்
Tiṉaittuṇai naṉṟi ceyiṉum
Paṉaittuṇaiyāk koḷvar payaṉteri vār
English translation
Those who understand true worth will value even a millet-seed sized favor as large as a palm tree.
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Explanation
This beautiful kural uses Tamil agriculture imagery: தினை (millet) has tiny seeds while பனை (palm) is a towering tree. Wise people magnify even small favors received, recognizing the kind intention behind them rather than the material size.
விளக்கம்
தினை அளவு உதவி செய்தாலும், அதன் மதிப்பை உணர்ந்தவர் பனை அளவு பெரிதாகக் கருதுவர். சிறிய உதவி செய்தவரின் நல்ல மனதை மதிப்பது செய்ந்நன்றி அறிதல் அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கியம். நன்றி மறவாதே.
Word meanings
- தினைtiṉaimillet (small grain)
- துணைtuṇaithe size of
- நன்றிnaṉṟifavor/good deed
- செயினும்ceyiṉumeven if done
- பனைpaṉaipalm tree
- கொள்வர்koḷvarwill regard
- பயன்payaṉworth/value
- தெரிவார்terivārthose who understand
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two farmers: Kumar, known for his generous heart, and Ravi, who often grumbled. One scorching summer, a severe drought threatened their crops. Kumar, despite his own dwindling water supply, shared a small portion with Ravi, enough to keep Ravi's seedlings alive. When the rains finally arrived, Kumar's fields, already parched, struggled to recover. Ravi's, however, flourished, thanks to the seedlings that had survived. Ravi's harvest was bountiful. He built a grand new home and purchased a fine oxcart, yet he rarely acknowledged Kumar. One day, Kumar’s son fell ill. Word spread quickly through the village. Ravi, witnessing Kumar's hardship, brought him a basket overflowing with the finest grains, a gift of pure generosity. Kumar, gratefully accepting the gift, smiled, seeing the true measure of Ravi's character.