Kural #328
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Tamil text
நன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் பெரிதெனினும்
சான்றோர்க்குக் கொன்றாகும் ஆக்கம் கடை
Naṉṟākum ākkam periteniṉum
Cāṉṟōrkkuk koṉṟākum ākkam kaṭai
English translation
However great the profit, the noble consider wealth gained by killing as the lowest.
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Explanation
No amount of material gain justifies taking life. Those of wisdom and virtue reject prosperity built on violence, considering such wealth contemptible.
விளக்கம்
கொல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், எந்த லாபம் கிடைத்தாலும், உயிரைக் கொன்று பெறும் செல்வம் நல்லோர்க்கு இழிவானது. அறவழியில் வராத செல்வம் வேண்டாம். உயிர்களை மதித்து வாழ்தலே மேன்மை.
Word meanings
- நன்றுnaṉṟugood
- ஆகும்ākumbecoming
- ஆக்கம்ākkamwealth/prosperity
- பெரிதுperitugreat
- எனினும்eṉiṉumeven if
- சான்றோர்க்குcāṉṟōrkkufor the noble
- கொன்றுkoṉṟuby killing
- கடைkaṭailowest/worst
Story behind this kural
The village of Eldoria was known for its bountiful harvests. Farmer Giles, a shrewd man, noticed a way to increase his yields. He began using a potent, though cruel, fertilizer made from crushed beetles. His crops flourished, and his granary overflowed. Word spread, and soon, others followed his methods. Eldoria became the wealthiest village in the land. Then came the drought. Giles, confident in his stores, remained untouched. But the other villagers, their fields barren, came begging. Giles, though rich, turned them away, hoarding his grain. Some whispered of the beetle fertilizer, of the tiny lives sacrificed for such wealth. One day, a wise old woman, her face etched with years, approached Giles. "Your granary is full," she said, "but your heart seems empty." She then turned and offered help to those who had nothing, even though she had nothing to give.