Kural #335
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Tamil text
நாச்செற்று விக்குள்மேல் வாராமுன்
நல்வினை மேற்சென்று செய்யப் படும்
Nācceṟṟu vikkuḷmēl vārāmuṉ
Nalviṉai mēṟceṉṟu ceyyap paṭum
English translation
Before hiccups seize the tongue and death approaches, hasten to do good deeds.
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Explanation
Death arrives suddenly, sometimes announced only by a final hiccup. Don't wait - actively pursue virtuous deeds while there is still time.
விளக்கம்
நாக்கு அடைத்து விக்கல் வருவதற்குள், நல்ல செயல்களைச் செய்ய வேண்டும். மரணம் எப்போது வரும் என்று தெரியாது. நிலையாமை அதிகாரத்தில், வாழ்க்கை நிலையற்றது என்பதை உணர்ந்து அறம் செய்யச் சொல்கிறார் வள்ளுவர்.
Word meanings
- நாnātongue
- செற்றுceṟṟuseizing/attacking
- விக்குள்vikkuḷhiccup
- மேல்mēlupon
- வாராமுன்vārāmuṉbefore coming
- நல்வினைnalviṉaigood deeds
- மேற்சென்றுmēṟceṉṟuhastening towards
- செய்யceyyato do
- படும்paṭummust be done
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived an elderly potter named Kumar. He was known for his beautiful clay pots, but also for his habit of postponing good deeds. "Tomorrow," he'd often say, "I'll help the poor." "Next week, I'll visit the sick." One day, a traveling merchant offered Kumar a fortune for a rare vase. Kumar, greedy, agreed, promising delivery the next morning. That night, a sudden storm shook the village. As Kumar rushed to secure his pots, he felt a strange tickle in his throat. A single hiccup escaped. Then another. He collapsed, clutching his chest. The next morning, the merchant arrived, but found only Kumar’s empty workshop. The villagers, saddened, recalled Kumar’s unfulfilled promises. The beautiful vase, still unmade, remained a testament to a life where good intentions were left for another day.