Kural #288
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Tamil text
அளவறிந்தார் நெஞ்சத்து அறம்போல நிற்கும்
களவறிந்தார் நெஞ்சில் கரவு
Aḷavaṟintār neñcattu aṟampōla niṟkum
Kaḷavaṟintār neñcil karavu
English translation
Just as virtue stands firm in the hearts of those who know restraint, deceit stands in the hearts of those who know theft.
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Explanation
A parallel construction showing two types of people. Those who understand limits have virtue residing in their hearts. Those who have learned theft have deceit lodged within. What one learns shapes one's character.
விளக்கம்
கட்டுப்பாடு உள்ளவர் மனதில் அறம் நிலைப்பது போல், திருட எண்ணுபவர் மனதில் பொய்மை குடிபுகும். கள்ளாமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, நல்லதை நினைத்தால் நன்மை, கெட்டதை நினைத்தால் கெடுதி என்பதே நீதி. எண்ணங்களே செயலாக மாறும்.
Word meanings
- அளவுaḷavurestraint
- அறிந்தார்aṟintārthose who know
- நெஞ்சத்துneñcattuin the heart
- அறம்aṟamvirtue
- போலpōlalike
- நிற்கும்niṟkumstands
- களவுkaḷavutheft
- நெஞ்சில்neñcilin the heart
- கரவுkaravudeceit
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two young men, Arun and Bala. Arun, the son of a farmer, toiled diligently in the fields, content with his simple life. He always shared his harvest with those in need, finding joy in honest labor. Bala, however, envied the riches of others. He learned to pilfer, taking what didn't belong to him, always looking for an easy gain. One year, a terrible drought struck the village. Arun's honest work, though yielding little, sustained him. He shared his meager harvest, his heart filled with a quiet peace. Bala, having accumulated wealth through dishonest means, found his stolen treasures meaningless. Fear and suspicion gnawed at him. He hoarded his gains, unable to trust anyone, his heart heavy with dread. When a rare opportunity for trade came, no one trusted him. He was left with nothing.