Kural #1054
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Tamil text
இன்பம் இரவினும் இன்னாது என்னும்
துன்பம் துடைத்தானா யார்க்கு
Iṉpam iravinum iṉṉātu eṉṉum
Tuṉpam tuṭaittāṉā yārkku
English translation
Who has truly experienced the suffering that makes begging more painful than pleasure?
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Explanation
This rhetorical question suggests that only those who have begged can understand how degrading it is. The comparison to pleasure is meant to show the profound psychological pain.
விளக்கம்
இரவு எவ்வளவு துன்பம் தரும் என்பதை அனுபவித்தவர்க்கே தெரியும். இன்பத்தை விடவும் அது கொடுமையானது. "இரவு" அதிகாரத்தில், யாசித்தல் எவ்வளவு இழிவானது என்பதை வள்ளுவர் உணர்த்துகிறார். இதைத் தவிர்க்க உழைத்து வாழ வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- இன்பம்iṉpampleasure/happiness
- இரவுiravubegging
- இனும்iṉumthan
- இன்னாதுiṉṉātupainful/unpleasant
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled/saying
- துன்பம்tuṉpamsuffering
- துடைத்தான்tuṭaittāṉhas wiped/experienced
- யார்க்குyārkkufor whom/who
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun toiled tirelessly, his fields yielding bountiful harvests. Bala, however, preferred the shade, often visiting Arun's well-stocked barn, asking for a handful of grain, then a basket, then a cartload. Initially, Arun shared generously. But as Bala's requests grew, Arun’s own family began to feel the pinch. One harsh winter, Arun's crops failed. He found himself facing starvation. He swallowed his pride and went to Bala's home. Bala, whose barn overflowed, refused, citing a bad season for himself. Arun, crestfallen, understood a truth that had eluded him before. He had given, but never truly known the sting of needing. He left empty-handed, the weight of his own hunger a far deeper ache than any act of giving could ever create.