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Kural #164

Virtue· அறம்Not Envying· அழுக்காறாமை

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Tamil text

அழுக்காற்றின் அல்லவை செய்யார்

இழுக்காற்றின் ஏதம் படுபாக் கறிந்து

Aḻukkāṟṟiṉ allavai ceyyār

Iḻukkāṟṟiṉ ētam paṭupāk kaṟintu

English translation

Those who know that envy leads to disgrace will not do improper things due to envy.

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Explanation

Understanding the consequences of envy prevents envious actions. Wise people recognize that acting from envy brings disgrace (இழுக்கு) and ruin (ஏதம்), and therefore avoid such behavior.

விளக்கம்

பொறாமை இழுக்கையும் கேட்டையும் தரும் என அறிந்தவர், பொறாமையால் தகாத செயல்களைச் செய்யமாட்டார். "அழுக்காறாமை" அதிகாரத்தில், பொறாமை அறத்துக்கு எதிரானது என்பதை உணர்த்துகிறது. தீய விளைவுகளை உணர்ந்து நல்வழியில் நடக்க வேண்டும்.

Word meanings

  • அழுக்காறுaḻukkāṟuenvy
  • அல்லவைallavaiimproper things
  • செய்யார்ceyyārwill not do
  • இழுக்குiḻukkudisgrace
  • ஆற்றின்āṟṟiṉthrough the path of
  • ஏதம்ētamharm/ruin
  • படுபாக்குpaṭupākkuwill suffer
  • அறிந்துaṟintuknowing

Story behind this kural

In the village of Eldoria, lived two potters, Elara and Barnaby. Elara, known for her vibrant, painted jugs, was beloved. Barnaby, seeing her success, felt a bitter pang. He began to whisper to the villagers, claiming Elara used "tricks" to make her jugs so appealing. He started making similar jugs, but his were clumsy, the paint chipped. He tried to hide Elara's jugs, and even, one day, secretly damaged them. The villagers, witnessing Barnaby's actions, grew wary. They stopped buying his pottery. One day, a wealthy merchant arrived, seeking the finest jugs for a royal feast. He examined both potters’ work. He saw Elara’s beautiful creations, and Barnaby’s flawed attempts, marred by the marks of his spite. The merchant, shaking his head, chose only Elara's jugs. Barnaby was left alone, his workshop empty, his heart heavy with regret.