Kural #1072
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Tamil text
நல்லாரை யாதும் விதுள்வார்
கடன்ஆற்றும் பொல்லாதார் பொல்லாத செய்து
Nallārai yātum vituḷvār
Kaṭaṉāṟṟum pollātār pollāta ceytu
English translation
Never abandon the good; the wicked will fulfill their duty by doing wicked deeds.
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Explanation
Good people should never be forsaken. Evil people will naturally do evil - that is their nature. This establishes the fundamental contrast between the noble and the base.
விளக்கம்
நல்லவர்களைக் கைவிடக்கூடாது. கயவர்கள் தீமை செய்வதே இயல்பு. இது கயமை அதிகாரத்தில் சொல்லப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. நல்லோரை ஆதரிப்பதே அறம்.
Word meanings
- நல்லாரைnallāraithe good ones
- யாதும்yātumever/at all
- விதுள்வார்vituḷvārabandon
- கடன்kaṭaṉduty
- ஆற்றும்āṟṟumperforming
- பொல்லாதார்pollātārthe wicked
- பொல்லாதpollātawicked/evil
- செய்துceytudoing
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two merchants: Arun, known for his kindness, and Varun, whose heart was as dark as a moonless night. Arun always offered fair prices and helped those in need. Varun, however, delighted in deception, hoarding his wealth by cheating others. A famine struck, and the villagers struggled. Arun shared his grain, refusing to profit from their suffering. Varun, seeing an opportunity, raised his prices, causing further hardship. Some villagers, desperate, pleaded with Varun to lower his prices. He feigned concern but remained unmoved, secretly pleased by their desperation. One day, a wealthy traveler arrived. He sought to purchase grain, unaware of the merchants’ characters. He offered Varun a generous sum, but Varun, ever greedy, demanded even more. Arun, witnessing the haggling, offered the traveler the same grain at a fair price. The traveler, seeing the difference, chose Arun. Varun was left alone, his wealth a cold comfort.