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Kural #1073

Wealth· பொருள்Baseness· கயமை

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Tamil text

கயவர் திரிபார் அறைகூஉய்

நல்லார் திரிபு இன்மை வேண்டாது யான்

Kayavar tiripār aṟaikūuy

Nallār tiripu iṉmai vēṇṭātu yāṉ

English translation

The base may wander and beg at doors; I do not wish the noble to lack wandering (freedom).

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Explanation

Base people naturally become beggars, moving from door to door. But noble people should have the freedom to wander by choice, not necessity. This defends the dignity of the noble.

விளக்கம்

கயவர்கள் வீடு வீடாக யாசகம் கேட்பது இயல்பு. ஆனால் நல்லவர்கள் வறுமையால் அல்லாமல், விருப்பப்படி எங்கும் செல்ல சுதந்திரம் வேண்டும். கயமை அதிகாரத்தில், நல்லோரின் பெருமை காக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதே குறளின் நீதி.

Word meanings

  • கயவர்kayavarbase/mean people
  • திரிபார்tiripārthose who wander
  • அறைaṟaidoor
  • கூஉய்kūuycalling/begging
  • நல்லார்nallārnoble ones
  • திரிபுtiripuwandering
  • இன்மைiṉmailack
  • வேண்டாதுvēṇṭātunot desiring
  • யான்yāṉI

Story behind this kural

In a sun-baked village, lived two men: Silas, a weaver known for his threadbare clothes and kind heart, and Marcus, a merchant whose pockets always seemed to jingle. One year, drought withered the crops. Marcus, hoarding his grain, grew rich selling it at exorbitant prices. Silas, however, shared his meager food with those even worse off. As hunger gnawed, Marcus went from door to door, a shadow of his former self, pleading for scraps. He, who once dined on feasts, now begged for a crust. Silas, though poor, still walked freely through the village, greeted with smiles and offered what little others had. They admired his spirit, his willingness to share what he had. Marcus, burdened by his choices, was a prisoner of his wealth, now worthless. Silas, though lacking riches, possessed the true treasure: the freedom to move through the world with his head held high.