Kural #171
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Tamil text
நடுவின்றி நன்பொருள் வெஃகின்
குடிபொன்றிக் குற்றமும் ஆங்கே தரும்
Naṭuviṉṟi naṉporuḷ veḵkiṉ
Kuṭipoṉṟik kuṟṟamum āṅkē tarum
English translation
If one covets the good wealth of others unjustly, one's family will perish and sin will follow.
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Explanation
Coveting others' wealth brings double destruction: family ruin (குடிபொன்றி) and moral sin (குற்றம்). The word நடுவின்றி (without justice) emphasizes that it is unjust desire that causes harm.
விளக்கம்
பிறர் பொருளைத் தவறான வழியில் விரும்பினால், குடும்பம் அழிந்து பாவமும் சேரும். வெஃகாமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, ஆசை பேராசையாக மாறினால் கெடுதல் நிச்சயம். நேர்மையற்ற ஆசை அழிவைத் தரும். பேராசை கூடாது.
Word meanings
- நடுவுnaṭuvujustice/fairness
- இன்றிiṉṟiwithout
- நன்naṉgood
- பொருள்poruḷwealth/property
- வெஃகின்veḵkiṉif coveted
- குடிkuṭifamily
- பொன்றிpoṉṟiperishing
- குற்றம்kuṟṟamsin/fault
- ஆங்கேāṅkēthere itself
- தரும்tarumwill give/bring
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived a potter named Kumar. He crafted beautiful clay pots, and his neighbor, Bala, owned a thriving rice farm. Kumar often admired Bala’s overflowing granary, filled with golden grains. A dark thought began to fester in Kumar’s heart: “If I had Bala’s rice, my life would be so much easier.” One night, driven by envy, Kumar crept into Bala's fields and filled sacks with rice, returning home with his ill-gotten gains. Initially, he reveled in his stolen wealth. But soon, a sickness swept through his family. His children fell ill, and his wife, consumed by grief, could barely work. The stolen rice brought no joy, only sorrow. The village, hearing of the sickness, turned away from Kumar, their trust shattered. Kumar, once known for his artistry, found his hands could no longer shape the clay; his craft deserted him. He was left with nothing but regret.