Kural #305
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Tamil text
தன்னைத்தான் காக்கின் சினங்காக்க
காவாக்கால் தன்னையே கொல்லும் சினம்
Taṉṉaittāṉ kākkiṉ ciṉaṅkākka
Kāvākkāl taṉṉaiyē kollum ciṉam
English translation
If you wish to protect yourself, guard against anger; if unguarded, anger will destroy you.
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Explanation
This powerful kural reveals anger's self-destructive nature. We think anger is directed outward at others, but its true victim is ourselves. Uncontrolled anger damages our health, relationships, and reputation.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 305-இல், கோபத்தை அடக்கினால் நம்மை நாமே காப்பாற்றிக் கொள்ளலாம். இல்லையென்றால், கோபம் நம்மையே அழித்துவிடும். வெகுளாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கோபம் தீமை விளைவிக்கும் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் உணர்த்துகிறார். கோபம் நமக்கு நாமே செய்து கொள்ளும் தீங்கு.
Word meanings
- தன்னைtaṉṉaioneself
- தான்tāṉself
- காக்கின்kākkiṉif wishes to protect
- சினம்ciṉamanger
- காக்கkākkaguard/protect
- காவாக்கால்kāvākkālif not guarded
- கொல்லும்kollumwill kill/destroy
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a potter named Kumar. His hands, skilled at shaping clay, created beautiful vessels. But Kumar had a fiery temper. One day, a merchant, displeased with a pot, loudly declared it flawed. Kumar's face flushed. In a rage, he smashed the pot, then turned on the merchant, shouting insults. The merchant, stunned, left. Kumar, still fuming, stormed home. That night, sleep evaded him. His heart raced. His anger burned, a bitter taste in his mouth. The next day, his hands trembled as he tried to work. He couldn't focus, and several pots cracked as he worked. The village children, once eager to watch him, now kept their distance. Kumar realized that the anger he thought he directed outward had only wounded himself, leaving his hands and his heart broken.