Kural #1048
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Tamil text
ஏதம்நிறை நீர்இன்று உலகனென்றும்
தான்விடாது கேட்டக்கால் கெட்டன் விதை
Ētamniṟai nīriṉṟu ulakaṉeṉṟum
Tāṉviṭātu kēṭṭakkāl keṭṭaṉ vitai
English translation
The world is full of faults, water is scarce - such constant complaints destroy the seed of one's character.
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Explanation
Poverty makes people blame the world and circumstances endlessly. This complaining mentality destroys the very foundation of noble character.
விளக்கம்
வறுமையால் உலகம் சரியில்லை, தண்ணீர் இல்லை என புலம்புவது தவறு. இப்படி குறை கூறிக்கொண்டே இருந்தால் நல்ல குணம் அழியும். நல்குரவு அதிகாரத்தில், சோம்பேறித்தனம் கூடாது என்பதே கருத்து.
Word meanings
- ஏதம்ētamfaults/defects
- நிறைniṟaifull of
- நீர்nīrwater
- இன்றுiṉṟuwithout/scarce
- உலகம்ulakamworld
- என்றும்eṉṟumalways saying
- தான்tāṉoneself
- விடாதுviṭātunot releasing
- கேட்டkēṭṭawhen heard/complained
- கால்kāltime
- கெட்டன்keṭṭaṉdestroyed
- விதைvitaiseed
Story behind this kural
In a parched village, two farmers toiled. Arul, despite the relentless sun, sang as he sowed. He’d say, “The soil is dry, but the sun offers warmth.” His neighbor, Kumar, always frowned. "The drought will ruin us," he’d moan, "The world is cursed with heat!" Days turned into weeks. Arul's field, though struggling, held a few green shoots. Kumar's field, however, was barren. He complained to the village elder, "The gods have forsaken me!" The elder replied, "Arul, facing the same hardship, found a way. You, consumed by your complaints, have let your spirit wither. It's not the lack of water that destroys the harvest, but the lack of hope that ruins the farmer."