Kural #344
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Tamil text
இயல்பாகும் நோன்பிற்கு ஒன்றின்மை
உடைமை மயலாகும் மற்றும் பெயர்த்து
Iyalpākum nōṉpiṟku oṉṟiṉmai
Uṭaimai mayalākum maṟṟum peyarttu
English translation
Having nothing is natural for asceticism; having possessions causes delusion again and again.
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Explanation
The ascetic life is characterized by possessionlessness. Ownership, even of little, creates delusion that repeatedly binds one to worldly attachments.
விளக்கம்
துறவு வாழ்க்கைக்கு எதையும் வேண்டாமென்ற எண்ணமே இயல்பானது. உடைமைகள் இருந்தால், ஆசைகள் திரும்பத் திரும்ப வந்து மனதை மயக்கும். பற்றுகளை விட்டுவிடுதலே துறவின் சிறப்பு.
Word meanings
- இயல்புiyalpunature/natural state
- ஆகும்ākumis
- நோன்பிற்குnōṉpiṟkufor asceticism
- ஒன்றுoṉṟuanything
- இன்மைiṉmainot having
- உடைமைuṭaimaipossession
- மயல்mayaldelusion
- மற்றும்maṟṟumagain
- பெயர்த்துpeyartturepeatedly
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two monks. One, Silas, owned nothing but his simple robes and begging bowl. He wandered freely, content with each day's provisions, always smiling. The other, Thomas, possessed a small hut, a few tools, and a tiny plot of land. He toiled endlessly, striving to improve his meager holdings. One harsh winter, Silas, though cold, remained cheerful, sharing his meager food with others. Thomas, however, was consumed by worry. The snow threatened his crops, and the hut offered little warmth. He fretted over his losses, his face etched with anxiety. When spring arrived, Silas, rested and renewed, continued his travels. Thomas, though his land recovered, still felt the sting of winter's hardships. He spent the season rebuilding, replanting, and worrying about the next harsh season, forever bound to his possessions.