Kural #115
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Tamil text
கேடும் பெருக்கமும் இல்லல்ல
நெஞ்சத்துக் கோடாமை சான்றோர்க் கணி
Kēṭum perukkamum illalla
Neñcattuk kōṭāmai cāṉṟōrk kaṇi
English translation
Loss and gain are inevitable for all, but maintaining an unbending heart is the ornament of the wise.
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Explanation
Life brings both prosperity and poverty to everyone. What distinguishes the noble (சான்றோர்) is that their integrity remains unchanged regardless of circumstance. கோடாமை (not bending) in the heart is the true jewel of character.
விளக்கம்
கேடும் பெருக்கமும் எல்லோருக்கும் உண்டு. நடுவுநிலை தவறாத மனமே சான்றோர்க்கு அழகு. இது நடுவு நிலைமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, எப்போதும் நேர்மையே சிறந்த அணிகலன் என்பதை உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- கேடுkēṭuloss/ruin
- பெருக்கம்perukkamprosperity/growth
- இல்லல்லillallaare not absent (for anyone)
- நெஞ்சத்துneñcattuin the heart
- கோடாமைkōṭāmainot bending/impartiality
- சான்றோர்க்குcāṉṟōrkkufor the noble
- அணிaṇiornament
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a potter named Kumar. He was known for his steady hands and honest dealings. One year, a great drought struck. Kumar’s pots, usually brimming with water, sat empty, and his family faced hardship. Yet, he never compromised on his craft, ensuring each pot was perfectly formed, even when he could barely afford to eat. The following year, a mighty king, impressed by Kumar's reputation for integrity, commissioned him to create a grand fountain for the palace. Kumar became wealthy overnight. Despite his newfound fortune, he continued to treat everyone with the same respect. He never boasted, and his pots, whether for a pauper or a prince, were always crafted with the same care and precision. The villagers often remarked on Kumar's unchanged demeanor, a testament to the true measure of a man.