Kural #1046
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Tamil text
இரக்க இரத்தக்கார் கண்ணும்
திரிதலின் தேரினும் தேறாது நட்பு
Irakka irattakkār kaṇṇum
Tiritaliṉ tēriṉum tēṟātu naṭpu
English translation
Even among those who should give, begging causes friendship to waver and never be certain.
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Explanation
Poverty forces begging even from friends, which corrupts relationships. No matter how tested, friendships fail under the strain of constant need.
விளக்கம்
வறுமையால் நண்பர்களிடம் யாசிப்பது நட்பை அசைத்துவிடும். கொடுக்கும் தகுதி உள்ளவர்களிடமே கெஞ்சினாலும், நட்பு உறுதியாக இருக்காது. நல்குரவு அதிகாரத்தில், தேவைக்காக இரப்பது உறவுகளை அழிக்கும் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார்.
Word meanings
- இரக்கirakkato beg
- இரத்தக்கார்irattakkārthose who should give
- கண்ணும்kaṇṇumeven among
- திரிதலின்tiritaliṉfrom wandering/asking
- தேரினும்tēriṉumeven when examined
- தேறாதுtēṟātunot certain/firm
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two friends, Arun and Bala. Arun was a skilled weaver, his loom singing songs of silk. Bala, a farmer, tilled the rich earth, his harvests bountiful. Their friendship was a sturdy oak, rooted deep. But a harsh winter struck. Bala’s crops failed, and hunger gnawed at his family. He turned to Arun, asking for grain. Arun, generous at first, gave freely. As the weeks turned into months, Bala’s need persisted. Each day, he returned, his hand outstretched. Arun, though kind, began to withdraw. The warmth in his eyes faded. One day, Bala came again, his face etched with shame. Arun, instead of offering help, busied himself with his loom, his silence a cold wall. Bala, head bowed, turned and walked away. The oak of their friendship, once so strong, now cracked under the weight of constant need.