Kural #129
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Tamil text
தீயினாற் சுட்டபுண் உள்ளாறும்
ஆறாதே நாவினாற் சுட்ட வடு
Tīyiṉāṟ cuṭṭapuṇ uḷḷāṟum
Āṟātē nāviṉāṟ cuṭṭa vaṭu
English translation
A burn wound from fire will heal internally, but a wound caused by the tongue will never heal.
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Explanation
This profound kural compares physical and verbal wounds. Fire burns the skin, but the wound heals from within. But harsh words burn the heart, leaving a scar (வடு) that never truly heals. Words wound deeper than fire.
விளக்கம்
நெருப்பினால் ஏற்பட்ட காயம் குணமாகும், ஆனால் நாவினால் பேசிய கெட்ட வார்த்தைகள் மனதில் ஆறாத வடுவை ஏற்படுத்தும். அடக்கமுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், தீய சொற்களைத் தவிர்த்து, பிறர் மனம் நோகாமல் பேச வேண்டும் என்பதே நீதி. வார்த்தைகள் தீயை விட கொடியவை.
Word meanings
- தீயினால்tīyiṉālby fire
- சுட்டcuṭṭaburned
- புண்puṇwound
- உள்uḷinside
- ஆறும்āṟumwill heal
- ஆறாதேāṟātēwill not heal
- நாவினால்nāviṉālby the tongue
- வடுvaṭuscar
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, a skilled blacksmith, possessed a fiery temper. Bala, a gentle farmer, was known for his calm demeanor. One day, a dispute arose over a shared field. Arun, enraged, hurled harsh words at Bala, accusing him of deceit. The words, sharp as a newly forged blade, cut deep. Bala, stung by his brother's fury, retreated in silence. Days turned into weeks, and the field remained untouched. Arun, though the initial anger subsided, found the memory of his words a constant ache. He watched Bala, working alone in his own field, a shadow of sadness in his eyes. One evening, a fire erupted in Arun's workshop. Neighbors rushed to help, including Bala. They worked tirelessly, saving the blacksmith's home. Arun, though grateful, felt the burn of his brother's earlier words more acutely than the lingering sting of the fire.