Kural #206
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Tamil text
தீப்பால தான்பிறர்கண் செய்யற்க
நோய்ப்பால தன்னை அடல்வேண்டா தான்
Tīppāla tāṉpiṟar kaṇ ceyyaṟka
Nōyppāla taṉṉai aṭalvēṇṭā tāṉ
English translation
He who does not want suffering to attack him should not inflict suffering on others.
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Explanation
This is the golden rule expressed negatively: do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you. Pain given returns as pain received.
விளக்கம்
பிறருக்குத் தீங்கு செய்தால், அதுவே நமக்குத் துன்பமாக வரும். தீவினையச்சம் அதிகாரத்தில், பிறருக்குத் தீமை செய்யாமல் இருந்தால், நமக்கும் தீமை வராது என்பதே நீதி. துன்பம் வேண்டாதவர், பிறருக்குத் துன்பம் தரக்கூடாது.
Word meanings
- தீப்பாலtīppālaevil/harmful things
- தான்tāṉoneself
- பிறர்கண்piṟarkaṇtowards others
- செய்யற்கceyyaṟkashould not do
- நோய்ப்பாலnōyppālasuffering/pain
- தன்னைtaṉṉaioneself
- அடல்aṭalto attack
- வேண்டாதான்vēṇṭātāṉone who does not want
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a baker named Arun. He was known for his delicious bread, but also for his sharp tongue and stingy ways. One day, a poor woman, Maya, came begging for a loaf, her children’s bellies empty. Arun, annoyed, refused and slammed the door. Later that week, Arun’s oven broke, leaving him unable to bake. Then, his prized cow fell ill, and he lost his entire week's earnings. Frustrated and alone, he sat outside his empty shop, when he saw Maya. She had baked extra bread that day and offered him a warm loaf, smiling gently. Arun, ashamed, accepted it. As he ate, he understood the warmth of her kindness. He felt a different kind of hunger now, one that no bread could satisfy.