Kural #205
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
இலன்என்று தீயவை செய்யற்க
செய்யின் இலனாகும் மற்றும் பெயர்த்து
Ilaṉeṉṟu tīyavai ceyyaṟka
Ceyyiṉ ilaṉākum maṟṟum peyarttu
English translation
Do not commit evil deeds pleading poverty, for if you do, you will become even poorer.
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Explanation
Some justify theft or fraud by claiming necessity. But evil deeds to escape poverty only bring more poverty. The karmic debt makes one's situation worse.
விளக்கம்
ஏழ்மையால் கெட்ட செயல்கள் செய்யாதே. செய்தால், திரும்பத் திரும்ப ஏழ்மை வரும். தீவினையச்சம் அதிகாரப்படி, கெட்ட செயல்கள் மேலும் துன்பத்தையே தரும். நல்ல வழியில் முயன்றால் நன்மை கிட்டும்.
Word meanings
- இலன்ilaṉI am poor/have nothing
- என்றுeṉṟusaying
- தீயவைtīyavaievil deeds
- செய்யற்கceyyaṟkado not do
- செய்யின்ceyyiṉif done
- இலனாகும்ilaṉākumwill become poor
- மற்றும்maṟṟumagain
- பெயர்த்துpeyartturepeatedly
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a poor woodcutter named Arul. He struggled to feed his family, and often his children went to bed hungry. One day, spotting a merchant’s cart overflowing with rice, Arul’s stomach growled. "I'll take just a little," he thought, justifying his deed. He stole a sack, hoping it would ease his family's suffering. The stolen rice fed his family for a few days, but soon, Arul found himself plagued by guilt. His axe felt heavier, the forest seemed to watch him, and his usual joy vanished. Then, a severe storm struck, destroying his small hut. He had to spend all his savings, including the meager amount he had earned, to rebuild. Now, his family was poorer than before. The merchant, hearing of Arul's misfortune, offered him work, but the woodcutter's heart was heavy with regret.