Kural #1065
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Tamil text
இரப்பன் என்னும் ஒரப்பன்
மற்றைய நரப்புளி நன்கூஉங் கறி
Irappan eṉṉum orappan
Maṟṟaiya narappuḷi naṉkūuṅ kaṟi
English translation
The word "I shall beg" is a saw that cuts; all other tortures are a good sauce in comparison.
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Explanation
Saying "I shall beg" cuts through one's soul like a saw. By comparison, even torture is like pleasant seasoning. The psychological pain of begging exceeds physical pain.
விளக்கம்
இரப்பன்" என்ற சொல் ஒருவரின் மானத்தை அறுக்கும் வாள் போன்றது. யாசகம் கேட்பதைவிட வேறு எந்தத் துன்பமும் இனிமையான சுவை போலாகும். இரவச்சம் அதிகாரத்தில், யாசகத்தின் கொடுமையை வள்ளுவர் உணர்த்துகிறார். கையேந்தாமல் வாழ முயற்சிப்பதே சிறப்பு.
Word meanings
- இரப்பன்irappanI shall beg
- என்னும்eṉṉumsaying/word
- ஒரப்பன்orappansaw/cutting tool
- மற்றையmaṟṟaiyaother
- நரப்புnarapputorture
- உளிuḷichisel
- நன்குnaṉkugood/well
- ஊஉம்ūumacting as
- கறிkaṟisauce/seasoning
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest lived a woodcutter named Arun. Once known for his sturdy frame and booming laughter, Arun fell upon hard times. A sudden illness stole his strength, and his savings dwindled. Hunger gnawed at his belly, and his children's worried faces pierced his heart. One day, desperation seized him. He swallowed his pride and approached the wealthy merchant, offering to beg for scraps. The merchant, a man known for his generosity, offered him food, but the shame that washed over Arun was a bitter tide. He felt exposed, diminished, as though his spirit had been flayed. Later, a wandering sage found Arun weeping beside the village well. Arun confessed his humiliation, comparing it to a physical wound. The sage listened patiently, then simply said, "True wealth resides not in possessions, but in the unwavering spirit." Arun, understanding dawned, finally felt his spirit heal. He returned to his village, resolved to find another way.