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Kural #130

Virtue· அறம்Self-Control· அடக்கமுடைமை

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Tamil text

கதங்காத்துக் கற்றடங்கல் ஆற்றுவான்

செவ்வி அறம்பார்க்கும் ஆற்றின் நுழைந்து

Kataṅkāttuk kaṟṟaṭaṅkal āṟṟuvāṉ

Cevvi aṟampārkkum āṟṟiṉ nuḻaintu

English translation

Virtue itself will seek an opportunity to enter and dwell with one who guards against anger and practices learned self-control.

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Explanation

This beautiful closing kural personifies அறம் (Virtue) as actively seeking out the self-controlled person. When one guards against anger (கதம் காத்து) and practices disciplined learning, Virtue comes looking for them, waiting for a chance to reside in their heart.

விளக்கம்

கதத்தை அடக்கி, கல்வி கற்று அடக்கமாய் இருப்பவரை அறம் தேடிச் சென்று அடையும். அடக்கமுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். கோபம் இல்லாமல் நல்லொழுக்கத்துடன் வாழ்ந்தால் அறம் நம்முள் புகுந்து வழிகாட்டும்.

Word meanings

  • கதம்katamanger
  • காத்துkāttuguarding against
  • கற்றுkaṟṟuhaving learned
  • அடங்கல்aṭaṅkalself-control
  • ஆற்றுவான்āṟṟuvāṉone who practices
  • செவ்விcevviopportunity
  • அறம்aṟamvirtue
  • பார்க்கும்pārkkumwill look for
  • ஆற்றின்āṟṟiṉthrough the path
  • நுழைந்துnuḻaintuentering

Story behind this kural

In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun was quick to anger, his face clouding with rage at the slightest offense. Bala, however, was known for his calm demeanor. He practiced patience, even when faced with hardship. One day, a merchant arrived, falsely accusing Arun of theft. Arun's face flushed crimson, his fists clenched. He was about to retaliate when Bala stepped forward. "Brother," he said gently, "Let us hear the merchant's proof." Bala listened patiently to the merchant's accusations, then calmly presented the truth. The merchant, ashamed, apologized. The villagers, witnessing Bala's composure, praised him. Later, a wise old woman gifted Bala with a precious gem, a symbol of inner peace. Arun, seeing the gem, understood the treasure his brother possessed was far greater than any jewel.