Kural #1057
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Tamil text
இரந்துண்டு வாழ்வாரே இல்லாயின்
பரந்துண்டு பாழ்செய்யும் தன்மை யுடைத்து
Irantuṇṭu vāḻvārē illāyiṉ
Parantuṇṭu pāḻceyyum taṉmai yuṭaittu
English translation
If there were no one to live by begging, the earth would have the power to expand and ruin all.
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Explanation
This paradoxical statement suggests that beggars actually serve a purpose: they allow the charitable to practice generosity. Without beggars, the earth itself would become barren from lack of giving.
விளக்கம்
இரந்து வாழ்வோர் இல்லாவிட்டால், பிறருக்குக் கொடுத்து உதவும் குணமில்லாமல் பூமி பாழாகும். இரப்பவர்கள் இருப்பதால் தானம் செய்பவர்கள் உருவாகிறார்கள். இது இரவின் அதிகாரத்தில் வள்ளுவர் கூறும் ஆழமான கருத்து.
Word meanings
- இரந்துirantubegging
- உண்டுuṇṭueating
- வாழ்வார்vāḻvārthose who live
- ஏēindeed
- இல்லாயின்illāyiṉif not exist
- பரந்துparantuexpanding
- உண்டுuṇṭuhaving
- பாழ்pāḻruin/waste
- செய்யும்ceyyummaking
- தன்மைtaṉmainature/quality
- உடைத்துuṭaittupossessing
Story behind this kural
In a prosperous village nestled beside a lush green valley, lived a miser named Silas. He hoarded his grain, refusing to share, even when the lean season arrived. The villagers, though struggling, still found ways to help each other. But Silas, untouched by their plight, grew richer while others barely survived. One day, a weary traveler, thin and worn, came to Silas's door. "Kind sir," he pleaded, "a handful of grain will save me." Silas scoffed, "Begone! I have no charity for the lazy." The traveler departed, and Silas, feeling smug, returned to his overflowing granary. That night, the valley withered. The river dried up. The once fertile fields cracked and crumbled. Silas's granary remained full, yet he found nothing to eat. He realized then, as the dust swirled around his empty belly, that his wealth had become a curse. The very earth had turned against him.