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Kural #204

Virtue· அறம்Dread of Evil Deeds· தீவினையச்சம்

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Tamil text

மறந்தும் பிறன்கேடு சூழற்க

சூழின் அறம்சூழும் சூழ்ந்தவன் கேடு

Maṟantum piṟaṉkēṭu cūḻaṟka

Cūḻiṉ aṟamcūḻum cūḻntavaṉ kēṭu

English translation

Never, even forgetfully, plan harm for another. If you do, karma will plan your ruin.

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Explanation

The law of karma is infallible. If you plot another's destruction, even carelessly, divine justice will plot yours. What you send out returns to you.

விளக்கம்

பிறருக்குத் தீங்கு நினைக்க மறந்தும் எண்ணாதே. அப்படி எண்ணினால், அறமே உனக்குத் தீங்கு செய்யத் திட்டம் போடும். தீவினையச்சம் அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். செய்த வினை உன்னைத் திரும்ப அடையும்.

Word meanings

  • மறந்தும்maṟantumeven forgetfully
  • பிறன்piṟaṉanother person
  • கேடுkēṭuruin/harm
  • சூழற்கcūḻaṟkado not plan
  • சூழின்cūḻiṉif planned
  • அறம்aṟamdharma/justice
  • சூழும்cūḻumwill surround/plan
  • சூழ்ந்தவன்cūḻntavaṉthe plotter

Story behind this kural

In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun's fields overflowed with rice, while Bala's were often parched. Envious, Arun secretly plotted to divert the river, stealing water from Bala's land. One moonless night, he dug a hidden channel. Soon, Bala's crops began to fail, and his family faced hardship. Arun, meanwhile, prospered, enjoying a bountiful harvest. But the river, angered by Arun's deceit, changed its course. It flooded Arun's fields, washing away his precious rice. His granary, once full, was now empty. Bala, though his crops were still recovering, helped Arun rebuild. Arun, humbled, understood the river's lesson. He learned that taking from another, even secretly, ultimately brings ruin upon oneself. The waters had simply returned to their natural course.