Kural #1063
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Tamil text
ஆற்றுப் புலாலும் அவர்துப்பின் ஈண்டு
இரப்பின் கோள்மூஞ்சி மென்பதே லாம்
Āற்றுப் pulālum avartupiṉ īṇṭu
Irappiṉ kōḷmūñci meṉpatē lām
English translation
Even carrion from the street is superior to eating what they give when one begs; begging brings only the status of a vulture.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar uses stark imagery: eating carrion (dead flesh) like a vulture is more dignified than begging. Both scavenge, but at least the vulture doesn't debase itself before others.
விளக்கம்
பிச்சை எடுப்பதை விட தெருவில் கிடக்கும் பிணத்தை தின்பது மேல். இரவச்சம் அதிகாரத்தில், யாசிப்பது கழுகுக்கு சமம் என்கிறது குறள். மானம் காத்து வாழ்தலே சிறப்பு. பிறரிடம் கையேந்தாமல் உழைத்து வாழ வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- ஆற்றுāṟṟustreet/road
- புலால்pulālmeat/carrion
- உம்umalso
- அவர்avarthey
- துப்புtuppufood
- இன்iṉthan
- ஈண்டுīṇṭuhere
- இரப்பின்irappiṉif begging
- கோள்kōḷseizing
- மூஞ்சிmūñcivulture
- என்பதுeṉpatuwhat is called
- ஏēindeed
- ஆம்āmis
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, a skilled carpenter, earned his keep through honest labor. Bala, however, preferred ease. When times grew hard, Arun toiled harder. Bala, instead, began to beg. He'd stand at the village gate, his face etched with a practiced sorrow, pleading for scraps. Some villagers, pitying his plight, offered him food. Others turned away, ashamed. Arun, though saddened by his brother's path, continued his work. One day, a great storm ravaged the forest, bringing down trees. Arun, using his skills, salvaged fallen timber, crafting beautiful objects that he sold for a good price. Bala, still begging, found his handouts dwindling as the villagers struggled themselves. He saw Arun’s growing prosperity and felt a pang of envy. He approached Arun, hoping for a handout. Arun, instead, offered Bala a piece of wood and taught him the first steps of carpentry.