Kural #201
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Tamil text
தீவினையார் அஞ்சார் விழுமியார் அஞ்சுவர்
தீவினை என்னும் செருக்கு
Tīviṉaiyār añcār viḻumiyār añcuvar
Tīviṉai eṉṉum cerukku
English translation
Evil-doers do not fear sin, but the noble dread the arrogance called sin.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar distinguishes between the wicked and the noble by their attitude toward evil. The wicked are fearless about sin, while the noble tremble at the very thought of wrongdoing. This fear is wisdom, not weakness.
விளக்கம்
தீவினை செய்பவர் பாவத்துக்குப் பயப்படார்; நல்லவர் தீமையெனும் அகங்காரத்துக்குப் பயப்படுவர். தீவினையச்சம் அதிகாரத்தில், கெட்ட செயல்களுக்கு அஞ்சுதலே அறிவுடைமை என்கிறது குறள். தீய எண்ணமே தீமைக்கு வழிவகுக்கும்.
Word meanings
- தீவினையார்tīviṉaiyārevil-doers
- அஞ்சார்añcārdo not fear
- விழுமியார்viḻumiyārthe noble/excellent ones
- அஞ்சுவர்añcuvarwill fear
- தீவினைtīviṉaievil deed
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- செருக்குcerukkuarrogance/pride
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria thrived beside a whispering river. Old Man Hemlock, known for his cunning, secretly diverted water to his own parched fields, while his neighbor, Elara, watched her crops wither. Hemlock reveled in his abundance, boasting to anyone who would listen. “The river cares not for fairness,” he’d cackle. One day, a great storm raged. The river, angered by Hemlock’s selfishness, overflowed, washing away his precious harvest. Elara, whose fields had suffered less, helped rebuild Hemlock's home. Hemlock, humbled, confessed his deceit. He expected anger, but Elara simply said, “The river’s fury is a lesson, but the seed of shame within your heart is a far greater punishment.” Hemlock understood. He saw the sorrow in his actions and the kindness in Elara's response. The village rebuilt, but Hemlock never again looked at the river with the same heart.