Kural #177
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Tamil text
வேண்டற்க வெஃகியாம் ஆக்கம்
விளைவயின் மாண்டற்கு அரிதாம் பயன்
Vēṇṭaṟka veḵkiyām ākkam
Viḷaivayiṉ māṇṭaṟku aritām payaṉ
English translation
Desire not wealth gained by coveting; its fruit will be difficult to enjoy nobly.
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Explanation
Wealth acquired through covetousness cannot be enjoyed with honor. The fruit (பயன்) of such wealth will never bring noble satisfaction. Such gains are inherently tainted.
விளக்கம்
பிறர் பொருளை வெஃகிப் பெறும் செல்வம் தீமை தரும். வெஃகாமை அதிகாரத்தில், பிறர் பொருளை விரும்பாத அறத்தை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். ஆசையால் வந்த செல்வம் பெருமை தராது; நல்ல பயனும் இல்லை. பேராசை கூடாது என்பதே நீதி.
Word meanings
- வேண்டற்கvēṇṭaṟkadesire not
- வெஃகிveḵkiby coveting
- ஆம்āmthat is
- ஆக்கம்ākkamwealth/gain
- விளைவயின்viḷaivayiṉin the result
- மாண்டற்குmāṇṭaṟkufor glory/honor
- அரிதுaritudifficult
- ஆம்āmwill be
- பயன்payaṉfruit/benefit
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a shimmering river lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun toiled diligently, patiently nurturing his small plot of land. Bala, however, always eyed Arun's fertile fields with envy. He coveted the bountiful harvest Arun produced. One day, Bala devised a cunning plan. He secretly diverted the river's flow, flooding Arun's fields. Then, feigning innocence, he offered to buy the ruined land for a pittance. Arun, heartbroken but resilient, sold. Bala, overjoyed, sowed his own seeds. The next season, Bala’s crops flourished, but a strange blight withered them before harvest. His granaries remained empty, while Arun, having found new, fertile land, enjoyed a season of plenty. Bala, despite his fleeting gain, found no true satisfaction in his ill-gotten wealth. His heart remained heavy, and his name was forever stained.