Kural #1043
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Tamil text
நல்குரவு என்னும் ஒன்றோ
மற்றுள்ள குற்றங்களில் மிக்க கொடிது
Nalkuravu eṉṉum oṉṟō
Maṟṟuḷḷa kuṟṟaṅkaḷil mikka koṭitu
English translation
Is there something called poverty? Yes, among all evils it is the most cruel.
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Explanation
Poverty stands as the worst affliction because it compounds all other sufferings and strips away human dignity.
விளக்கம்
வறுமை என்பது மிகக் கொடியது. இது எல்லாத் துன்பங்களையும் விட மேலானது. நல்குரவு அதிகாரத்தில், வறுமை மனிதனைத் தாழ்த்தி, அவமானப்படுத்தும் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். பணம் இல்லாவிட்டால், வாழ்க்கை கஷ்டமாகிவிடும்.
Word meanings
- நல்குரவுnalkuravupoverty
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- ஒன்றுoṉṟusomething
- மற்றுmaṟṟuother
- உள்ளuḷḷaexisting
- குற்றங்களில்kuṟṟaṅkaḷilamong evils/faults
- மிக்கmikkaexceeding/greatest
- கொடிதுkoṭitucruel/harsh
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a potter named Arun. He crafted beautiful pots, but a cruel drought withered his clay and emptied his larder. Soon, Arun’s children cried with hollow bellies. One day, the village elder, a kind woman named Maya, offered Arun work mending her roof. He accepted gratefully, but his tools were worn and his hands trembled with weakness. The work was slow, and Maya grew impatient. Later, the village baker, usually generous, refused to give Arun bread on credit. “You cannot pay,” he said, turning away. Arun’s shame burned hotter than any sun. Finally, when Arun's youngest daughter fell ill, he could not afford the healer's herbs. He watched, helpless, as her fever climbed. His poverty was not just empty pockets; it was the loss of his skills, the scorn of his neighbors, and the inability to protect those he loved. His heart ached more than his empty stomach.