Kural #11
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Tamil text
வான்நின்று உலகம் வழங்கி வருதலால்
தான்அமிழ்தம் என்றுணரற் பாற்று
Vāṉniṉṟu ulakam vaḻaṅki varutalāl
Tāṉamiḻtam eṉṟuṇaraṟ pāṟṟu
English translation
Since rain sustains the world by falling from the sky, it deserves to be called ambrosia (the nectar of life).
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar elevates rain to the status of அமிழ்தம் (ambrosia), the divine nectar that grants immortality. Just as ambrosia sustains the gods, rain sustains all earthly life.
விளக்கம்
வான் நின்று உலகம் காப்பதால், அதுவே அமிழ்தம். மழை இல்லையேல் உயிர்கள் இல்லை. 'வான்சிறப்பு' அதிகாரத்தில், மழையின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை வள்ளுவர் உணர்த்துகிறார். மழையே வாழ்வின் ஆதாரம்.
Word meanings
- வான்vāṉrain/sky
- நின்றுniṉṟustanding/from
- உலகம்ulakamworld
- வழங்கிvaḻaṅkigiving/sustaining
- வருதலால்varutalālbecause it comes
- தான்tāṉitself
- அமிழ்தம்amiḻtamambrosia/nectar
- என்றுeṉṟuas/that
- உணரற்பாற்றுuṇaraṟpāṟṟufit to be understood
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria was parched. The sun, a relentless eye in the sky, beat down on cracked earth. The riverbed, once a ribbon of life, was now a dusty scar. The villagers, their faces etched with worry, watched their crops wither. Old Man Theron, wise and weathered, stood at the village well, his gaze fixed on the heavens. He spoke of ancient prophecies, of a time when the sky wept tears of life. The people, desperate, listened intently. Then, the clouds gathered. Dark and pregnant, they filled the sky, blocking the sun's harsh glare. A low rumble echoed, and the first drops fell, fat and heavy. Joy erupted. Children danced in the downpour. The parched earth drank deeply. Soon, the river began to flow again, a silver thread weaving through the rejuvenated land. The crops, once dying, began to rise, reaching towards the life-giving water. The villagers, their faces now reflecting hope, knew a gift of immense value had been bestowed upon them. They understood the true worth of the heavens' tears.