Kural #338
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Tamil text
குடம்பை தனித்துஒழியப் புள்பறந் தற்றே
உடம்பொடு உயிரிடை நட்பு
Kuṭampai taṉittuoḻiyap puḷpaṟan taṟṟē
Uṭampoṭu uyiriṭai naṭpu
English translation
The friendship between soul and body is like a bird leaving its nest - one day it will fly away.
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Explanation
A beautiful metaphor: the soul resides in the body as a bird in its nest. But just as a bird inevitably flies away, the soul will one day depart, leaving the body behind.
விளக்கம்
உடம்பும் உயிரும் ஒரு கூடு போல. பறவை கூட்டை விட்டுப் பறப்பது போல், உயிர் உடலை விட்டு ஒரு நாள் போகும். நிலையாமை அதிகாரத்தில், எல்லாம் நிலையற்றது என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது. வாழ்க்கையின் உண்மை இது.
Word meanings
- குடம்பைkuṭampainest
- தனித்துtaṉittualone
- ஒழியoḻiyato remain
- புள்puḷbird
- பறந்துpaṟantuflying
- அற்றேaṟṟēlike that
- உடம்பொடுuṭampoṭuwith body
- உயிர்uyirsoul/life
- இடைiṭaibetween
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived an elderly carpenter named Thiru. His hands, gnarled with age, had crafted countless beautiful things. He built sturdy homes for families, carved intricate toys for children, and fashioned ornate doors for the temple. One day, a young apprentice, Ravi, asked Thiru, “Master, why do you work so tirelessly, knowing all things fade?” Thiru smiled, his eyes twinkling like distant stars. He led Ravi to a grand oak tree where a nest of colorful birds rested. “See those fledglings?” he asked. “They are safe and warm here. They chirp and grow, believing this nest their world.” As they watched, a hawk soared overhead. The fledglings, startled, took flight, leaving the nest empty. “The nest remains,” Thiru said gently, “but the birds seek new horizons, new experiences. So it is with all things.” He picked up his tools and returned to his workshop, the rhythmic tap-tap-tap of his hammer echoing through the village.