Kural #247
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Tamil text
அருளில்லார்க்கு அவ்வுலகம் இல்லை
பொருளில்லார்க்கு இவ்வுலகம் இல்லாகி யாங்கு
Aruḷillārkku avvulakam illai
Poruḷillārkku ivvulakam illāki yāṅku
English translation
Just as this world is nothing to the poor, the next world is nothing to those without compassion.
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Explanation
As the moneyless suffer in this world, the compassionless will suffer in the next. Both wealth and compassion are needed for their respective realms.
விளக்கம்
அருள் இல்லாதவருக்கு மறுவுலகம் இல்லை. பணம் இல்லாதவருக்கு இவ்வுலக வாழ்க்கை பயனற்றது போல, கருணை இல்லாதவருக்கு மேலான வாழ்க்கை இல்லை. அருளுடைமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, இரக்கமே சிறந்த அறம்.
Word meanings
- அருள்aruḷcompassion
- இல்லார்க்குillārkkufor those without
- அவ்வுலகம்avvulakamthat world (afterlife)
- இல்லைillaidoes not exist
- பொருள்poruḷwealth
- இவ்வுலகம்ivvulakamthis world
- இல்லாகிillākibecoming nothing
- யாங்குyāṅkujust as
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a wealthy merchant named Silas. He possessed vast granaries overflowing with grain, yet his heart remained barren. He saw the villagers struggle, their bellies often empty, but he offered no help, hoarding his wealth. One harsh winter, the forest's bounty dwindled. The villagers, already weakened by hunger, began to fall ill. Silas, safe within his warm home, heard their pleas but remained unmoved. He saw their suffering as a weakness, a problem that did not concern him. When the chill finally lifted, and the first green shoots emerged, the villagers, aided by the few who shared what little they had, slowly recovered. Silas, however, found himself increasingly isolated. His wealth seemed to offer him no comfort, no warmth. His granaries remained full, but his heart felt empty. The laughter of the village, once a distant song, no longer reached him. He was alone.