Kural #261
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
உற்றநோய் நோன்றல் உயிர்க்குறுகண் செய்யாமை
அற்றே தவத்திற் குரு
Uṟṟanōy nōṉṟal uyirkkuṟukaṇ ceyyāmai
Aṟṟē tavattir kuru
English translation
Penance consists of enduring suffering and not causing harm to any living being.
Listen
Explanation
Thiruvalluvar defines true penance (தவம்) with two components: bearing one's own hardships with patience, and refraining from causing suffering to others. This dual definition emphasizes that asceticism must include compassion.
விளக்கம்
உற்ற துன்பத்தைப் பொறுத்துக்கொள்வதும், எந்த உயிருக்கும் தீங்கு செய்யாமல் இருப்பதும் தவத்தின் உண்மையான வடிவம். இது தவம் அதிகாரத்தில் முக்கியமானது. பிற உயிர்களிடம் கருணை காட்டுவதே சிறந்த தவம் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது.
Word meanings
- உற்றuṟṟaexperienced/endured
- நோய்nōysuffering/pain
- நோன்றல்nōṉṟalbearing/enduring
- உயிர்க்குuyirkkuto living beings
- உறுகண்uṟukaṇharm/injury
- செய்யாமைceyyāmainot doing
- அற்றேaṟṟēsuch is
- தவத்திற்குtavattiṟkufor penance
- உருuruform/essence
Story behind this kural
The old potter, Elango, lived a simple life in the village. One scorching summer, the river dried up. The villagers, desperate for water, blamed Elango for using the last of the clay. They turned on him, shouting insults and even throwing stones. Elango, though hurt, did not retaliate. He continued toiling under the sun, repairing his broken pots. When a small bird, its wing injured, fluttered near him, he gently crafted a tiny bowl, filling it with the precious water he had managed to collect. He offered the bird shelter and care. Later, a sudden downpour filled the river once more. The villagers, ashamed, came to Elango, seeking his forgiveness. They saw him, not as a selfish man, but as a man who endured hardship and showed kindness even when faced with cruelty. They understood the true measure of a man's spirit.