Kural #1069
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Tamil text
இன்மையின் இன்னாது இரத்தல்
இரத்தலின் இன்னாது இல்லாமை நோய்
Iṉmaiyiṉ iṉṉātu irattal
Irataliṉ iṉṉātu illāmai nōy
English translation
More painful than poverty is begging; more painful than begging is the disease of destitution.
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Explanation
A hierarchy of suffering: poverty is bad, begging is worse, but the chronic disease of absolute destitution (இல்லாமை நோய்) is the worst. This is the progressive degradation of human dignity.
விளக்கம்
வறுமையிலும் கொடியது யாசிப்பது. அதைவிடக் கொடியது இல்லாமையெனும் நோய். இரப்பது மானம் கெடுக்கும், இல்லாமை வாழ்வையே சிதைக்கும். இரவச்சம் அதிகாரத்தில், யாசிப்பதைவிட உழைத்து வாழ்வதே மேல் என்பதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- இன்மைiṉmaipoverty
- இன்iṉthan
- இன்னாதுiṉṉātupainful
- இரத்தல்irattalbegging
- இரத்தல்irattalbegging
- இன்iṉthan
- இல்லாமைillāmaidestitution
- நோய்nōydisease
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a parched riverbed lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, once a prosperous farmer, lost his land to a devastating flood. He swallowed his pride and began to beg, his days filled with the sting of rejection and the shame of his empty hands. Bala, however, refused to beg. He toiled relentlessly, scavenging for scraps and sleeping under the open sky. He was often hungry, always weary, but his spirit remained unbroken. Villagers, witnessing Arun's constant pleas, offered him less and less, their sympathy worn thin. Yet, they always offered a kind word, or a crust of bread, to Bala. Years passed. Arun became gaunt and hollow, his voice a whisper, his eyes darting with the fear of want. Bala, though thin and weathered, possessed a quiet dignity. One day, a wealthy merchant, touched by Bala's resilience, offered him work. Arun, still begging, watched Bala walk away, a future opening before him.