Kural #263
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Tamil text
துறந்தார்க்குத் துப்புரவு வேண்டி
மறந்தார்கொல் மற்றை யவர்கள் தவம்
Tuṟantārkkut tuppuravu vēṇṭi
Maṟantārkol maṟṟai yavarkaḷ tavam
English translation
Have others forgotten penance, desiring to provide for those who have renounced?
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Explanation
This kural raises an interesting social observation. Householders who support renunciants may themselves have forgotten to pursue spiritual discipline. The implication is that supporting others' penance should not replace one's own spiritual practice.
விளக்கம்
துறந்தவர்களுக்கு உணவு அளிப்பவர்கள், தாங்கள் தவம் செய்ய மறந்தார்களா? இல்லறத்தில் இருப்பவர்களும் தவம் செய்ய வேண்டும். பிறர் தவத்திற்கு உதவுவது நல்லது, ஆனால் சுய தவத்தை விடக்கூடாது. இது தவத்தின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- துறந்தார்க்குtuṟantārkkufor those who have renounced
- துப்புரவுtuppuravusustenance/provisions
- வேண்டிvēṇṭidesiring/wishing to provide
- மறந்தார்கொல்maṟantārkolhave they forgotten?
- மற்றைmaṟṟaithe other
- யவர்கள்yavarkaḷpeople
- தவம்tavampenance
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, the elder, was known for his generosity. Every morning, he would prepare a feast for the wandering monks who passed through their village, offering them the finest fruits and the softest bread. He believed deeply in supporting their life of contemplation. Bala, however, toiled in his fields. He rose with the sun, tending his crops, and rarely rested. He admired the monks but found little time for prayer or reflection himself. He believed his hard work provided for his family, and that was enough. One year, a terrible drought struck. Arun’s generosity strained his resources, as he still fed the monks while his own family struggled. Bala’s crops, though, yielded a meager harvest. He realized he had focused solely on the physical world, neglecting the inner work of resilience. The monks, accustomed to Arun’s bounty, offered him comfort, but had little else to give.