Kural #229
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Tamil text
இரத்தலின் இன்னாது மன்ற
நிரப்பிய தாமே தமியர் உணல்
Irattalin iṉṉātu maṉṟa
Nirappiya tāmē tamiyar uṇal
English translation
Surely, eating alone what one has hoarded is more painful than begging.
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Explanation
The loneliness of selfish eating is worse than the humiliation of begging. Sharing food brings community; hoarding brings isolation.
விளக்கம்
இரத்தலின் கொடுமையானது தனித்து உண்பது. ஈகை அதிகாரத்தில், பிறருக்குக் கொடுத்து உண்ணாமல் சேர்த்து வைத்துத் தனியே சாப்பிடுவது யாசிப்பதை விடத் துன்பமானது என்கிறது குறள். பகிர்ந்து உண்ணுதலே அறம்.
Word meanings
- இரத்தலின்irattalinthan begging
- இன்னாதுiṉṉātuunpleasant
- மன்றmaṉṟacertainly
- நிரப்பியnirappiyahaving hoarded
- தாமேtāmēoneself alone
- தமியர்tamiyaralone
- உணல்uṇaleating
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his bountiful harvest; his granary overflowed with rice and lentils. Yet, he ate alone, his meals consumed in the silence of his lonely hut, fearing others would deplete his wealth. Bala, on the other hand, had a modest yield. But every evening, the aroma of his simple meal, often just a handful of rice, wafted through the village. Children would gather, and Bala would share, his laughter echoing in the twilight. One year, a harsh drought withered the land. Arun, secure in his stores, ate well, but the villagers suffered. Bala, though his stores were meager, shared what little he had. Arun watched as the villagers, united by Bala's generosity, supported each other, while he remained isolated, his plentiful food tasting of emptiness. The drought eventually passed, but the lesson remained etched in the villagers’ hearts.