Kural #314
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Tamil text
நோயெல்லாம் நோய்செய்தார் மேலவாம்
நோய்செய்யார் நோயின்மை வேண்டு பவர்
Nōyellām nōyceytār mēlavām
Nōyceyyār nōyiṉmai vēṇṭu pavar
English translation
All suffering falls upon those who cause suffering; those who wish to be free from suffering will not cause pain to others.
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Explanation
This kural presents the law of karma clearly. Those who harm others will themselves suffer. Therefore, self-interest alone should motivate us to avoid causing harm.
விளக்கம்
பிறருக்குத் துன்பம் தந்தால், துன்பம் தந்தவருக்கே திரும்ப வரும். இன்னா செய்யாமை அதிகாரத்தில், யாருக்கும் தீங்கு செய்யாதிருப்பதே நன்மை தரும். துன்பம் வேண்டாதவர், பிறருக்குத் துன்பம் செய்யாதிருக்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- நோய்nōysuffering/pain
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- செய்தார்ceytārthose who did
- மேலmēlaupon
- ஆம்āmwill be
- செய்யார்ceyyārwill not do
- இன்மைiṉmaiabsence
- வேண்டுபவர்vēṇṭupavarthose who desire
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a baker named Elara. Her bread was known throughout the land, but Elara was often envious of the success of others. One day, she secretly sabotaged the mill of a rival baker, hoping to ruin his business. The next day, a swarm of angry bees, disturbed by Elara's actions, attacked her own bakery, stinging her and ruining her fresh loaves. Meanwhile, a wise old farmer named Theron observed everything. He had seen Elara's actions and the misfortune that followed. Later that week, a terrible storm destroyed Theron's crops, but he helped his neighbors rebuild, including the rival baker whose mill was sabotaged. As the villagers rebuilt, they noticed that Elara, though still recovering from the bee stings, was alone and struggling. The rival baker, whose mill was repaired by Theron, offered Elara his help. He knew what happened, but he didn't hold a grudge. He said, "Let us all share the harvest together."