Kural #1056
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Tamil text
மன்ஃது இரவு தேற்றாது
மன்ஃதுண்ண நீரது உண்ணல் இனிது
Maṉḵtu iravu tēற்றātu
Maṉḵtuṇṇa nīratu uṇṇal iṉitu
English translation
Begging is utterly unbearable; it is sweeter to drink water to fill the belly.
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Explanation
Rather than beg for food, it is better to drink water to suppress hunger. This emphasizes maintaining dignity even in extreme poverty.
விளக்கம்
யாசிப்பது மிகவும் இழிவானது. பசியால் வாடி உணவுக்காக கையேந்துவதை விட, தண்ணீர் குடித்துப் பசியாறுவது மேலானது. இரவு என்ற அதிகாரத்தில், மானத்துடன் வாழ்தலின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது காட்டுகிறது. வறுமையிலும் தன்மானம் காக்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- மன்றுmaṉṟuutterly/completely
- இரவுiravubegging
- தேற்றாதுtēṟṟātuunbearable
- மன்றுmaṉṟufully
- உண்ணuṇṇato eat/fill
- நீர்nīrwater
- அதுatuthat
- உண்ணல்uṇṇalconsuming
- இனிதுiṉitusweet/pleasant
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a parched riverbed lived an old woman named Elara. Drought had withered the land, leaving her with nothing. Her stomach gnawed with hunger. She could barely walk, but her pride remained. One day, Elara stumbled upon a grand feast hosted by the wealthy merchant, Theron. The aroma of roasted meats and sweet fruits wafted through the air, tempting her. Her empty stomach roared. She considered asking for a morsel. Instead, she remembered a spring of cool, clear water near her humble hut. Though it offered no sustenance, it could at least soothe her aching hunger. With a heavy heart, she turned away from the feast, slowly making her way home. Reaching her hut, she drank deeply from her earthen pot. The water offered no nourishment, yet it gave her a strange sense of peace. That evening, as the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and red, she slept soundly, her spirit unbroken.