Kural #319
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Tamil text
பிறர்க்கின்னா முற்பகல் செய்யின்
தமக்கின்னா பிற்பகல் தாமே வரும்
Piṟakkiṉṉā muṟpakal ceyyiṉ
Tamakkiṉṉā piṟpakal tāmē varum
English translation
If you harm others in the morning, harm will come to you by evening on its own.
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Explanation
This vivid kural illustrates the swift return of karma. The day is used metaphorically - harmful actions quickly bring harmful consequences. "On its own" emphasizes karma's automatic nature.
விளக்கம்
பிறருக்குக் காலையில் தீமை செய்தால், அந்தத் தீமையே உனக்கு மாலையில் தானாகவே வந்து சேரும். 'இன்னா செய்யாமை' அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் இக்குறள், செய்த வினை செய்தவர்க்கே திரும்ப வரும் என்பதை விளக்குகிறது. தீய செயல்களின் விளைவு உடனடியாக இருக்கும் என்பதே இதன் நீதி.
Word meanings
- பிறர்க்குpiṟarkkuto others
- இன்னாiṉṉāharm
- முற்பகல்muṟpakalmorning/forenoon
- செய்யின்ceyyiṉif done
- தமக்குtamakkuto oneself
- பிற்பகல்piṟpakalafternoon/evening
- தாமேtāmēby itself
- வரும்varumwill come
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a baker named Arun. Known for his sour disposition, Arun often grumbled and complained, especially to his neighbor, the potter. One morning, angered by the potter’s singing, Arun spitefully tossed a bucket of water onto the potter's freshly baked clay pots, ruining them. Later that day, Arun was readying his bread for the market. But as he reached for the flour, he found his supply infested with weevils, rendering it useless. Disheartened, he went to the well to fetch water, only to discover a large, fallen branch blocking his access. He was left with no ingredients to bake. The potter, seeing Arun’s plight, offered him a loaf of bread, baked that morning. Arun, ashamed, accepted the kindness. He finally understood the unseen forces at play in his life.