Kural #1060
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Tamil text
இன்மையின் எற்றுவது இரங்கோள்
இரந்தாம் தன்மையின் தான்இழத் தார்
Iṉmaiyiṉ eṟṟuvatu iraṅkōḷ
Irantām taṉmaiyiṉ tāṉiḻat tār
English translation
What is gained from poverty? Pity. Those who beg have lost their very self-respect.
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Explanation
Poverty may earn sympathy, but begging destroys one's fundamental dignity and self-worth. The loss of தன்மை (self-respect) is the ultimate price of begging.
விளக்கம்
வறுமையால் கிடைப்பது இரக்கம் மட்டுமே. யாசகம் கேட்பதால் தன்மானம் இழக்க நேரிடும். 'இரவு' அதிகாரத்தில், தன்மானத்தை விட பெரிய இழப்பு இல்லை என்பதை வள்ளுவர் உணர்த்துகிறார். பிச்சை எடுப்பதை விட உழைத்து வாழ்வதே சிறந்தது.
Word meanings
- இன்மைiṉmaipoverty
- இன்iṉfrom
- எற்றுவதுeṟṟuvatuwhat is gained
- இரங்கோள்iraṅkōḷpity
- இரந்தாம்irantāmhaving begged
- தன்மைtaṉmaiself-nature/dignity
- இன்iṉby
- தான்tāṉself
- இழத்தார்iḻattārthose who lost
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, after a harsh drought, was left with nothing. He began to beg, his days filled with outstretched hands and lowered eyes. The villagers, though initially sympathetic, soon tired of his pleas. They began to avoid him, their generosity replaced with averted gazes. Bala, also struck by the drought, refused to beg. Instead, he worked tirelessly, offering his labor in exchange for food. He helped mend fences, carried water, and cleared fields. Though he often went hungry, he maintained a proud posture. Slowly, he earned the villagers' respect and support. They shared what little they had, admiring his spirit. One day, the rain returned, blessing the land. Bala, with the villagers’ help, was the first to plant his seeds. Arun, still begging, found himself alone, his pleas unheard. He watched Bala’s fields flourish, realizing he had traded his dignity for fleeting comfort, and lost everything.