Kural #19
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Tamil text
தானம் தவமிரண்டும் தங்கா
வியன்உலகம் வானம் வழங்கா தெனின்
Tāṉam tavamiṟaṇṭum taṅkā
Viyaṉulakam vāṉam vaḻaṅkā teṉiṉ
English translation
If rain does not fall, both charity and penance will not endure in this vast world.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar identifies the two pillars of spiritual life: தானம் (charity) and தவம் (penance). Without rain, there is nothing to give as charity, and ascetics cannot sustain their penance without food.
விளக்கம்
வானம் பெய்யாவிட்டால், தானமும் தவமும் உலகில் நிலைக்காது. மழை இல்லாவிட்டால் உணவு இல்லை; தானம் செய்ய ஏதும் இருக்காது. தவ வலிமையும் குறையும். மழையின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது காட்டுகிறது.
Word meanings
- தானம்tāṉamcharity/giving
- தவம்tavampenance/austerity
- இரண்டும்iraṇṭumboth
- தங்காtaṅkāwill not endure
- வியன்viyaṉvast
- உலகம்ulakamworld
- வானம்vāṉamrain
- வழங்காvaḻaṅkādoes not give
- எனின்eṉiṉif
Story behind this kural
The village of Valluvar thrived. Fields of grain waved, and the river flowed generously. Farmer Arul, known for his kindness, shared his harvest with the needy. The wise woman, Devi, dedicated her days to meditation, her simple life a beacon of peace. Then, the rains stopped. The river became a trickle. The fields turned to dust. Arul’s storehouse emptied, and he could no longer offer food. People grew thin and desperate. Even the birds stopped singing. Devi, weakened by hunger, could barely focus on her prayers. Her usual serenity was replaced by worry. She watched as the villagers, once giving and content, now hoarded what little they had. The spirit of the village, once so vibrant, began to wither.