Kural #307
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Tamil text
சினத்தைப் பொருளென்று கொண்டவன் கேடு
நிலத்தறைந்தான் கைபிழையா தற்று
Ciṉattaip poruḷeṉṟu koṇṭavaṉ kēṭu
Nilattaṟaintāṉ kaipiḻaiyā taṟṟu
English translation
The ruin of one who regards anger as a weapon is as certain as the hand of one who strikes the ground.
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Explanation
Some think anger is a useful tool or weapon. Thiruvalluvar compares this to striking the ground with one's hand - the hand is sure to be hurt. Anger always harms its user.
விளக்கம்
சினத்தை ஒரு ஆயுதமா நினைப்பவன் அழிவது உறுதி. நிலத்தில் அடித்த கைக்கு வலி வருவது போல, கோபம் கொள்பவனுக்கே தீங்கு வரும். வெகுளாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கோபத்தை அடக்கினால் நன்மை உண்டாகும் என்பதே கருத்து.
Word meanings
- சினத்தைciṉattaianger
- பொருள்poruḷwealth/weapon/asset
- என்றுeṉṟuas
- கொண்டவன்koṇṭavaṉone who holds/regards
- கேடுkēṭuruin/destruction
- நிலத்துnilattuon the ground
- அறைந்தான்aṟaintāṉone who strikes
- கைkaihand
- பிழையாதுpiḻaiyātuwill not escape
- அற்றுaṟṟulike that
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river lived a blacksmith named Arun. Arun was known for his skill, but also for his fiery temper. When things did not go his way, his face would flush, and his voice would boom like thunder. One day, a merchant haggled fiercely over the price of a plow. Arun, enraged, threw the plow to the ground, smashing it to pieces. He stormed away, his hand throbbing from the impact. That night, unable to sleep, Arun nursed his injured hand. The next morning, the merchant, though initially frightened, saw Arun’s frustration. He offered to buy a new plow, and even offered Arun a better price than before. Yet, Arun could not work, his hand still ached, and he had lost a day's earnings. He saw the merchant smile, and Arun realized that his anger had hurt him more than it had hurt anyone else.