Kural #268
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Tamil text
தன்னுயிர் தான்அறப் பெற்றானை
ஏனைய மன்னுயிர் எல்லாம் தொழும்
Taṉṉuyir tāṉaṟap peṟṟāṉai
Ēṉaiya maṉṉuyir ellām toḻum
English translation
All other living beings will worship the one who has gained the knowledge to abandon the self.
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Explanation
The highest attainment of penance is the transcendence of ego. One who has truly let go of self-attachment becomes worthy of reverence from all creatures. This echoes the concluding kural of the previous chapter.
விளக்கம்
தன்னை வெறுத்து, தன்னலம் இல்லாமல் வாழ்பவரை மற்ற உயிர்கள் எல்லாம் மதிக்கும். இது தவத்தின் உச்சம். "தவம்" அதிகாரத்தில், தன்னடக்கமே சிறந்தது என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது. சுயநலத்தை விட்டால் எல்லோரும் மதிப்பார்கள்.
Word meanings
- தன்taṉone's own
- உயிர்uyirself/life
- தான்tāṉoneself
- அறaṟato abandon/renounce
- பெற்றானைpeṟṟāṉaione who has attained
- ஏனையēṉaiyaother
- மன்maṉexisting
- உயிர்uyirliving beings
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- தொழும்toḻumwill worship
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arun. He was known for his tireless work, felling trees to provide for his family. One harsh winter, a terrible blizzard struck, burying the village in snow. Food dwindled, and fear gripped the hearts of the villagers. Arun, despite his own hunger, noticed an elderly woman struggling to gather firewood. Without hesitation, he carried her meager pile to her hut, then spent the day clearing the snow from her doorway. He continued helping others, sharing his dwindling food stores and offering shelter to those in need. As the blizzard raged, Arun seemed to grow stronger, his spirit unwavering. When the storm finally ceased, the villagers emerged, astonished to find their homes and paths cleared. They saw Arun, exhausted but content, and a profound respect filled their hearts. They gathered around him, offering him the best of what little they had, acknowledging the quiet strength and selfless kindness that had saved them all.