Kural #1067
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
இன்னாது இரத்தல் இரந்தன்ன
இன்னாது இன்னா வறிதே புகல்
Iṉṉātu irattal irantaṉṉa
Iṉṉātu iṉṉā vaṟitē pukal
English translation
Begging is painful; what is begged is painful; it is vain to say which pain is more painful.
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Explanation
The act of begging is painful, receiving what is begged is painful, and comparing these pains is pointless. Every aspect of begging involves suffering.
விளக்கம்
இரப்பது துன்பம்; பெற்றதுவும் துன்பம். எது பெரிய துன்பம் என்பதில் பயனில்லை. இரவச்சம் அதிகாரப்படி, யாசிப்பது அவமானம்; சுயமரியாதையுடன் வாழ வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- இன்னாதுiṉṉātupainful
- இரத்தல்irattalbegging
- இரந்தன்னirantaṉṉawhat is begged
- இன்னாதுiṉṉātupainful
- இன்னாiṉṉāpain
- அறிதேaṟitēknowing/saying
- புகல்pukalspeaking/declaring
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, once a prosperous farmer, had lost his land in a flood. He swallowed his pride and began to beg. Each day, he’d stand by the marketplace, his hand outstretched, his face etched with shame. The coins he received barely covered his meager meals. Bala, a skilled craftsman, watched his brother’s suffering. He felt pity, but his own life was a struggle. One day, he gave Arun a beautiful wooden carving, hoping it could be sold. Arun, hesitant, reluctantly offered it to a wealthy merchant. The merchant, seeing Arun's desperation, offered a pittance. Arun felt a deeper sting. He was ashamed to accept so little for Bala's fine work. Arun felt the weight of both his begging and his brother's generosity, the pain of both givers and receivers. He returned home, the carving still in his hand, understanding that both acts brought a bitter taste.