Kural #157
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
திறனல்ல தற்பிறர் செய்யினும்
நோநொந்து அறனல்ல செய்யாமை நன்று
Tiṟaṉalla taṟpiṟar ceyyiṉum
Nōnontu aṟaṉalla ceyyāmai naṉṟu
English translation
Even when others do improper things to us, it is good not to do unvirtuous acts in return, despite feeling hurt.
Listen
Explanation
This kural acknowledges that we feel pain when wronged. But even while experiencing that pain (நோநொந்து), we should not respond with unvirtuous actions. The hurt is natural; the response is our choice.
விளக்கம்
பிறர் நமக்குத் தீங்கு செய்தாலும் வருத்தப்படாமல், திருப்பித் தீங்கு செய்யாதிருப்பது நல்லது. இது பொறையுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் முக்கிய கருத்து. பொறுமை காப்பது அறம், பழி வாங்குவது அறம் அல்ல.
Word meanings
- திறன்tiṟaṉproper/right
- அல்லallanot
- தன்taṉto oneself
- பிறர்piṟarothers
- செய்யினும்ceyyiṉumeven if they do
- நோnōpain
- நொந்துnontusuffering
- அறன்aṟaṉvirtue
- செய்யாமைceyyāmainot doing
- நன்றுnaṉṟugood
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Their fields bordered each other. One scorching summer, Arun’s irrigation ditch broke, flooding Bala's young rice plants. Bala, enraged, confronted Arun, his voice sharp with anger. "You've ruined my harvest!" he shouted. Arun, though stung by the accusation, saw the truth in Bala’s words. He could have responded with harsh words, blaming the heat, the poor soil, anything. But he bit back his retort. Instead, he simply said, "I am truly sorry. Let me help you repair the damage." Bala, expecting a fight, was disarmed by Arun's calm. Together, they mended the broken ditch. Later, Arun even helped Bala replant his rice seedlings. Though the summer was long and hard, both farmers saw their crops grow strong. The villagers, witnessing this, spoke of the quiet strength that had bloomed in the face of adversity.