Kural #283
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
களவினால் ஆகிய ஆக்கம்
அளவிறந்து ஆவது போலக் கெடும்
Kaḷaviṉāl ākiya ākkam
Aḷaviṟantu āvatu pōlak keṭum
English translation
Wealth gained through theft, though it may seem to grow beyond measure, will eventually perish.
Listen
Explanation
Ill-gotten gains may appear to multiply enormously, but they are doomed to destruction. What seems like prosperity from theft is actually heading toward inevitable ruin.
விளக்கம்
களவு செய்து சேர்த்த செல்வம் பெரிதாக வளர்வது போல் தோன்றினாலும், அது விரைவில் அழிந்துவிடும். கள்ளாமை அதிகாரத்தில், திருக்குறள் நேர்மையாக வாழச் சொல்கிறது. தவறான வழியில் வரும் செல்வம் நிலைக்காது என்பதே இதன் நீதி.
Word meanings
- களவினால்kaḷaviṉālthrough theft
- ஆகியākiyathat came
- ஆக்கம்ākkamwealth/prosperity
- அளவுaḷavumeasure
- இறந்துiṟantuexceeding
- ஆவதுāvatubecoming/growing
- போலpōlaeven though
- கெடும்keṭumwill perish
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, with honest labor, cultivated his land, season after season, his harvests modest but steady. Bala, however, envied Arun's growing prosperity. One moonless night, Bala crept into Arun's barn, stealing his grain. He sold it, making a great profit, and soon built a grand house, boasting of his success. For a time, Bala thrived. He feasted, wore fine clothes, and was admired for his apparent good fortune. Yet, the river that once watered both farms, began to flood, washing away his new house. His stolen grain had attracted rats, which spread disease through his remaining crops. His fields became barren, and his neighbors shunned him. Arun, meanwhile, rebuilt his barn, and with the help of the villagers, his harvest grew again. The river receded, leaving Arun's land fertile once more.