Kural #123
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
செறிவறிந்து சீர்மை பயக்கும்
அறிவறிந்து ஆற்றின் அடங்கப் பெறின்
Ceṟivaṟintu cīrmai payakkum
Aṟivaṟintu āṟṟiṉ aṭaṅkap peṟiṉ
English translation
If one exercises self-control with wisdom and understanding, it will bring excellence and renown.
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Explanation
Self-control is most effective when guided by wisdom (அறிவறிந்து). Thoughtful restraint, knowing when and how to apply it, brings true excellence (சீர்மை). Blind suppression is not the goal - intelligent self-governance is.
விளக்கம்
அடக்கமுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், அறிவுடன் அடங்குதல் சிறப்பானது. எப்போது, எப்படி அடங்க வேண்டும் எனத் தெரிந்து அடங்கினால், அது புகழையும் மேன்மையையும் தரும். அறிவில்லாமல் அடங்குவது பயனில்லை.
Word meanings
- செறிவுceṟivurestraint/density
- அறிந்துaṟintuknowing/understanding
- சீர்மைcīrmaiexcellence/glory
- பயக்கும்payakkumwill yield
- அறிவுaṟivuwisdom
- ஆற்றின்āṟṟiṉin the way/properly
- அடங்கaṭaṅkato be restrained
- பெறின்peṟiṉif obtained
Story behind this kural
In a bustling marketplace, a merchant named Arun became enraged when a rival undercut his prices. His face flushed, and he clenched his fists, ready to shout accusations. But then, he remembered his grandfather's words: "Control your words as you would a wild horse." Arun took a deep breath. He thought of his family and the reputation he had spent years building. Would a moment of anger be worth losing all that? Instead of lashing out, he quietly observed his competitor. He noticed the quality of the rival's goods was inferior. Later, Arun calmly explained the superior craftsmanship of his own wares to the customers. Gradually, they returned to his stall, valuing quality over the cheapest price. Arun's business thrived, while the rival's faltered. The villagers admired Arun's wisdom and restraint, for it was the foundation of his success.