Kural #1041
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
இன்மை இனிய உளவாம்
இன்மை இரந்தாற் கணியாமை யான்
Iṉmai iṉiya uḷavām
Iṉmai irantāṟ kaṇiyāmai yāṉ
English translation
Poverty can be sweet if it means not having to beg and be disdained.
Listen
Explanation
Honorable poverty, where one maintains dignity without begging, is preferable to degrading dependence on others' charity.
விளக்கம்
வறுமை வந்தாலும், பிறரிடம் யாசித்து அவமானப்படுவதை விட, தன்மானத்துடன் இருப்பது நல்லது. இரந்து வாழும் இழிவைத் தவிர்த்தால், வறுமையிலும் ஒரு இனிமை உண்டு. நல்குரவு அதிகாரத்தில், தன்மானமே முக்கியம் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார்.
Word meanings
- இன்மைiṉmaipoverty/lack
- இனியiṉiyasweet/pleasant
- உளவாம்uḷavāmcan be
- இரந்துirantubegging
- அற்குaṟkuto that
- அணியாமைaṇiyāmainot being valued/disdain
- ஆன்āṉbecause of
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, though possessing a small plot of land, toiled tirelessly, his days filled with planting and tending. When the rains failed, his harvest was meager. Yet, he never sought help. He tightened his belt, shared what little he had, and worked harder still, accepting his fate. Bala, on the other hand, owned a vast field. But he was known for his laziness. When the drought came, he begged at the village gate, his pleas filled with self-pity. The villagers, initially sympathetic, soon grew weary of his constant demands. They offered him less and less, turning their faces as he approached. One day, Arun, though his stores were nearly empty, offered Bala a handful of his precious grain. Bala scoffed, "What good is this? I need much more!" Arun simply smiled and returned to his small field. The villagers watched, understanding the true meaning of wealth.