Kural #306
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Tamil text
சினமென்னும் சேர்ந்தாரைக் கொல்லி
இனமென்னும் ஏமப் புணையைச் சுடும்
Ciṉameṉṉum cērntāraik kolli
Iṉameṉṉum ēmap puṇaiyaic cuṭum
English translation
The fire called anger that destroys those who harbor it will also burn the raft of kinship that provides protection.
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Explanation
Anger is compared to fire that burns both the angry person and their family ties. Our relatives are like a protective raft in life's ocean, but anger destroys even this support system.
விளக்கம்
சினம் ஒரு கொடிய நெருப்பு. அது தன்னைச் சேர்ந்தவரையே அழிக்கும். அதுமட்டுமல்லாமல், உறவினர்கள் என்னும் பாதுகாப்பான தெப்பத்தையும் எரித்துவிடும். கோபம் இல்லாமல் வாழ்ந்தால் உறவுகள் காக்கலாம், நன்மை பெறலாம். வெகுளாமை அதிகாரத்தில் வள்ளுவர் இதை வலியுறுத்துகிறார்.
Word meanings
- சினம்ciṉamanger
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- சேர்ந்தாரைcērntāraithose who harbor it
- கொல்லிkollikiller/fire
- இனம்iṉamkinship/family
- ஏமம்ēmamprotection
- புணைpuṇairaft
- சுடும்cuṭumwill burn
Story behind this kural
In a peaceful village nestled beside a wide river, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. They owned a prosperous fishing boat, the "Kinship." Arun, usually calm, was easily angered. One day, a dispute arose over fishing grounds. Furious, Arun accused Bala of greed, his voice rising, face reddening. Bala, hurt by his brother's words, retreated, taking his own boat to fish elsewhere. Days turned into weeks. The brothers no longer spoke, their shared meals replaced with stony silence. One stormy night, the river raged. Arun's boat, caught in the tempest, began to take on water. He cried for help, but the villagers, fearing the storm, stayed sheltered. Suddenly, a familiar boat appeared – Bala's. Without hesitation, Bala steered toward his brother, rescuing him from the churning waters. As they reached the shore, shivering but safe, Arun looked at Bala, shame washing over him. The "Kinship," once strong, had almost been lost, not to the storm, but to the fire within.