Kural #178
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Tamil text
அஃகாமை செல்வத்திற்கு யாதெனின்
வெஃகாமை வேண்டும் பிறன்கைப் பொருள்
Aḵkāmai celvattiṟku yāteṉiṉ
Veḵkāmai vēṇṭum piṟaṉkaip poruḷ
English translation
What prevents wealth from diminishing? Not coveting what is in another's hand.
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Explanation
The secret to preserving wealth is not coveting others' possessions. Covetousness leads to actions that destroy one's own wealth. Content with what you have, your wealth remains secure.
விளக்கம்
பிறர் பொருளை விரும்பாத குணமே செல்வத்தைக் காக்கும். "வெஃகாமை" அதிகாரத்தின்படி, பேராசை இல்லாமல் இருந்தால், நம் செல்வம் குறையாமல் நிலைக்கும். பிறர் பொருளை அடைய நினைப்பது தீய செயல்களுக்கு வழி வகுக்கும்.
Word meanings
- அஃகாமைaḵkāmainot diminishing
- செல்வத்திற்குcelvattiṟkufor wealth
- யாதுyātuwhat
- எனின்eṉiṉif asked
- வெஃகாமைveḵkāmainot coveting
- வேண்டும்vēṇṭumis needed
- பிறன்piṟaṉanother
- கைkaihand
- பொருள்poruḷproperty/wealth
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun toiled diligently, his fields yielding a modest but steady harvest. Bala, however, constantly eyed Arun's bountiful crops, his heart filled with envy. One season, Arun's harvest was particularly plentiful. Bala, consumed by greed, began to spread rumors, hoping to diminish Arun’s reputation and perhaps even seize his land. He told tales of Arun's supposed laziness and the unfairness of his success. Soon, the villagers, swayed by Bala's words, began to avoid Arun. Arun, though saddened, continued his work. Meanwhile, Bala, distracted by his schemes, neglected his own fields. Weeds choked his crops, and his harvest withered. When the season ended, Arun’s storehouse overflowed, and he shared his surplus with those in need. Bala, however, found his own storehouse empty, his dreams of Arun's wealth turned to dust.