Kural #166
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Tamil text
கொடுப்பது அழுக்கறுப்பான் சுற்றம்
உடுப்பதூஉம் உண்பதூஉம் இன்றிக் கெடும்
Koṭuppatu aḻukkaṟuppāṉ cuṟṟam
Uṭuppatūum uṇpatūum iṉṟik keṭum
English translation
The envious person's family will perish without food to eat or clothes to wear.
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Explanation
Envy brings such misfortune that not only the envious person but their entire family suffers. They will lack even the basic necessities - food and clothing. Envy destroys households.
விளக்கம்
பொறாமை குணம் உள்ளவன் கொடுப்பதை தடுப்பான். அதனால் அவன் குடும்பம் உண்ண உணவு, உடுக்க உடை இன்றி கஷ்டப்படும். அழுக்காறாமை அதிகாரத்தில், பொறாமை குடும்பத்தையே அழிக்கும் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். பொறாமை கூடாது.
Word meanings
- கொடுப்பதுkoṭuppatugiving
- அழுக்கறுப்பான்aḻukkaṟuppāṉthe envious one
- சுற்றம்cuṟṟamfamily/relatives
- உடுப்பதுuṭuppatuwearing/clothes
- உண்பதுuṇpatueating/food
- இன்றிiṉṟiwithout
- கெடும்keṭumwill perish
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two families. The first, the Potters, were known for their sturdy, beautiful vessels, admired by all. The second, the Weavers, crafted vibrant cloths, their looms constantly clacking. Amara, the potter’s wife, often watched the Weavers with a frown. Their colourful clothes seemed brighter than hers, their children always well-fed. "Why them and not us?" she’d grumble to her husband, her heart twisting with discontent. Slowly, the Potters’ work began to suffer. Amara’s complaints distracted her husband; their clay grew less refined, their glazes dull. They spent their earnings on frivolous things, trying to match the Weavers’ apparent prosperity. Soon, their storage jars were empty, their children's clothes threadbare. Meanwhile, the Weavers, though not immune to hardship, continued to thrive. They worked together, sharing their skills and supporting each other. Their cheerful spirit brought them good fortune, while the Potters’ envy slowly consumed them, leaving them with nothing.