Kural #1062
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
இன்பம் ஒருவற்கு இரத்தல்
இரந்தவை துன்பம் உரு மாறிற் றற்று
Iṉpam oruvaṟku irattal
Irantavai tuṉpam uru māṟiṟ ṟaṟṟu
English translation
What may be pleasure to one person through begging is suffering transformed in form to another.
Listen
Explanation
The giver may feel joy in charity, but for the beggar, what appears as relief is actually suffering in disguise. The form changes but the pain remains.
விளக்கம்
இரத்தல் ஒருவருக்கு இன்பம் போல் தோன்றினாலும், அது துன்பத்தின் மறு உருவமே. யாசிப்பவருக்கு வெளியில் உதவி கிடைத்தாலும், உள்ளுக்குள் அது அவமானத்தையும் வலியையும் தரும். இரவச்சம் அதிகாரத்தின்படி, யாசிப்பதை விட உழைத்து வாழ்வதே மேலானது.
Word meanings
- இன்பம்iṉpampleasure
- ஒருவற்குoruvaṟkuto one person
- இரத்தல்irattalbegging
- இரந்தவைirantavaithings begged
- துன்பம்tuṉpamsuffering
- உருuruform
- மாறிற்றுmāṟiṟṟutransformed
- அற்றுaṟṟulike
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a kind merchant named Arul. He often gave alms to the poor, finding pleasure in their gratitude. One day, a weary traveler arrived, his clothes tattered, his stomach empty. Arul, seeing his plight, offered him a warm meal and a night's rest. The traveler ate heartily, praising Arul's generosity. Later, the traveler saw a young boy struggling to carry a heavy load of firewood. The traveler, remembering Arul's kindness, approached the boy and offered to help, expecting thanks. However, the boy, embarrassed, quickly refused, his face flushed with shame. He mumbled something about not wanting to appear weak. The traveler, confused, walked away, the warmth of Arul's feast now replaced by a chilling unease. He realized that while giving might bring joy, receiving could sometimes carry a different weight altogether.