Kural #334
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நாளென ஒன்றுபோல் காட்டி
உயிர்ஈரும் வாளது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்
Nāḷeṉa oṉṟupōl kāṭṭi
Uyirīrum vāḷatu uṇarvārp peṟiṉ
English translation
Each day appears as something ordinary, but for the wise it is a sword silently cutting away life.
Listen
Explanation
A profound meditation on time. Days seem harmless and routine, but each one brings us closer to death. The wise see time as a sword invisibly severing our lifespan.
விளக்கம்
நாள் சாதாரணமாகத் தோன்றினாலும், அது உயிரை அறுக்கும் வாள். நிலையாமை அதிகாரத்தில், ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் வாழ்நாளைக் குறைக்கிறது என்பதை உணர்த்துகிறார் வள்ளுவர். காலத்தின் அருமையை உணர்ந்து அறம் செய்ய வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- நாள்nāḷday
- எனeṉaas
- ஒன்றுoṉṟusomething
- போல்pōllike
- காட்டிkāṭṭishowing
- உயிர்uyirlife
- ஈரும்īrumcutting
- வாள்vāḷsword
- அதுatuthat
- உணர்வார்uṇarvārthose who realize
- பெறின்peṟiṉif obtain
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river lived an old carpenter named Thayan. Every morning, he'd rise with the sun, his days filled with the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of his hammer. He built sturdy homes, carved beautiful furniture, and watched the seasons turn. One day, a young boy named Arul came to him, admiring his work. “Thayan, your hands are strong, your creations lasting. You must be happy.” Thayan smiled, his eyes holding the wisdom of a long life. "Arul, look at this wood. Smooth and strong, yes? Yet, with each stroke of my saw, a piece is gone. Each day, another sliver vanishes." Arul pondered this, watching the carpenter's hands move with practiced ease. He saw the houses grow taller, the furniture take shape. He also saw the pile of sawdust growing, a silent measure of time passing. The boy understood, without needing words.