Kural #318
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Tamil text
எனைவேண்டி துன்பம் தரினும்
தனைவேண்டி அன்புடையார் செய்யார் பிறர்க்கு
Eṉaivēṇṭi tuṉpam tariṉum
Taṉaivēṇṭi aṉpuṭaiyār ceyyār piṟarkku
English translation
Even if great benefit comes from causing suffering to others, those with love will not do so, considering their own soul.
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Explanation
True compassion refuses to harm others even for personal gain. Those with genuine love consider their own spiritual wellbeing, which is damaged by causing suffering.
விளக்கம்
பிறருக்குத் துன்பம் தந்தால் நமக்கு நன்மை வந்தாலும், அன்பு உள்ளம் கொண்டவர் அதைச் செய்ய மாட்டார். பிறர் துன்பம் நம்மையும் பாதிக்கும் என நினைப்பதே இன்னா செய்யாமை அதிகாரத்தின் நீதி. தீமை செய்யாதிருப்பதே அறம்.
Word meanings
- எனைeṉaiwhatever/however much
- வேண்டிvēṇṭidesiring
- துன்பம்tuṉpamsuffering
- தரினும்tariṉumeven if gives
- தனைtaṉaioneself
- அன்புடையார்aṉpuṭaiyārthose with love
- செய்யார்ceyyārwill not do
- பிறர்க்குpiṟarkkuto others
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arul. He was known for his kindness, but he struggled with poverty. One day, a wealthy merchant offered Arul a fortune for a rare tree in the forest. The tree's wood was said to possess magical properties, highly valued by the merchant. The tree stood on the edge of a sacred grove, and felling it meant destroying the home of many forest creatures. Arul knew this, but the money promised would solve his family's woes. As he raised his axe, a little bird landed on his shoulder, chirping sadly. Arul hesitated, looking at the bird and then at the tree. He saw the potential wealth, but also the suffering his actions would cause. He lowered his axe. “I cannot,” he told the merchant, returning the offer. The merchant scoffed and left. Arul, though still poor, felt a lightness in his heart he hadn’t known before. He continued to cut wood, but now, his heart was full.