Kural #209
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
தன்னைத்தான் காதலன் ஆயின்
எனைத்தொன்றும் துன்னற்க தீவினைப் பால்
Taṉṉaittāṉ kātalaṉ āyiṉ
Eṉaittoṉṟum tuṉṉaṟka tīviṉaip pāl
English translation
If one truly loves oneself, one should never approach evil deeds even slightly.
Listen
Explanation
Self-love, properly understood, prevents sin. If you truly care about your own wellbeing, you will avoid evil because you know it harms you most.
விளக்கம்
தன்னை நேசிப்பவன், சிறிய தீமையையும் அணுகக்கூடாது. தீவினை செய்தால், அதுவே நமக்குத் துன்பம் தரும். "தீவினையச்சம்" அதிகாரத்தில், தீமையின் விளைவுகளை உணர்ந்து விலகலே அறிவுடைமை.
Word meanings
- தன்னைtaṉṉaioneself
- தான்tāṉoneself
- காதலன்kātalaṉlover/one who loves
- ஆயின்āyiṉif
- எனைத்தொன்றும்eṉaittoṉṟumeven a little
- துன்னற்கtuṉṉaṟkado not approach
- தீவினைtīviṉaievil deed
- பால்pāltowards
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arul. He was known for his strength and kindness. One day, a wealthy merchant offered Arul a tempting deal: to fell trees in a protected grove, promising a mountain of gold. Arul knew it was forbidden, that the grove sheltered rare birds and sacred springs. The thought of wealth danced in his mind. He imagined a grand house, food enough to feed his village for a year. He went to the grove, axe raised. As he swung the blade, a vision flashed before him: his own children, their faces etched with worry. He saw the villagers' disappointment. He saw his own shame. Arul lowered his axe. He walked away, returning to his simple life. The merchant scoffed, but Arul felt a peace he had never known before. His heart, his conscience, felt clean. He realized the true wealth lay not in gold, but in the reflection he saw in his own eyes.