Kural #219
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Tamil text
நயனுடையான் நல்கூர்ந்தான் ஆதல்
செயும்நீர செய்யாது அமைகலா வாறு
Nayaṉuṭaiyāṉ nalkūrntāṉ ātal
Ceyumnīra ceyyātu amaikalā vāṟu
English translation
The poverty of a benevolent person is like being unable to do what one naturally should do.
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Explanation
When a kind person becomes poor, they suffer not from want but from inability to give. Their nature demands generosity; poverty prevents it.
விளக்கம்
நயனுடைய ஒருவர் வறுமையடைவது, அவரால் பிறருக்கு உதவ முடியாமல் போவதால் ஏற்படும் துயரம். ஒப்புரவறிதல் அதிகாரத்தின்படி, பிறருக்கு உதவும் இயல்புடையவர், வறுமையால் அதை செய்ய முடியாமல் தவிப்பது வருத்தத்திற்குரியது. தர்மம் செய்வதே இயல்பு என்னும் போது, அதை செய்ய முடியாமை துன்பம்.
Word meanings
- நயன்nayaṉbenevolence
- உடையான்uṭaiyāṉone who has
- நல்கூர்ந்தான்nalkūrntāṉbecame poor
- ஆதல்ātalbecoming
- செயும்ceyumshould do
- நீரnīranature
- செய்யாதுceyyātunot doing
- அமைகலாவாறுamaikalāvāṟuunable to be content
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria lived Elias, a baker renowned for his warm heart and even warmer bread. Every morning, he offered loaves to the poor, never turning anyone away. The villagers thrived, knowing they could always find a meal at Elias's door. One harsh winter, a blight struck the wheat fields. Elias’s business dwindled. He could barely afford flour for his own family, let alone the extra loaves. His heart ached as he watched children go hungry. He tried to help, sharing his meager portions, but it wasn't enough. He saw the familiar faces of the needy, now with desperate eyes. He longed to offer more, to ease their suffering as he always had. He felt a deep sorrow, a sense of failure. He was trapped, unable to fulfill the natural kindness that flowed from him. The villagers, though understanding, suffered alongside him. The generosity was gone, and the village felt the cold of the winter in their hearts.