Kural #35
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
அழுக்காறு அவாவெகுளி இன்னாச்சொல் நான்கும்
இழுக்கா இயன்றது அறம்
Aḻukkāṟu avāvekuḷi iṉṉāccol nāṉkum
Iḻukkā iyaṉṟatu aṟam
English translation
Virtue is living free from envy, greed, anger, and harsh words - these four.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar identifies four great obstacles to virtue: envy (azhukkaaru), excessive desire or greed (avaa), anger (vekuli), and harsh or hurtful speech (innaasol). True virtue (aram) consists in conducting one's life (iyanrathu) without falling into (izhukka) any of these four faults.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 35-இன் பொருள்: பொறாமை, ஆசை, கோபம், கடுஞ்சொல் இல்லாமல் வாழ்வதே அறம். இந்த நான்கும் அறத்திற்குத் தடை. அறன்வலியுறுத்தல் அதிகாரத்தின்படி, நல்லொழுக்கமே வலிமையானது என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது.
Word meanings
- அழுக்காறுaḻukkāṟuenvy/jealousy
- அவாavāgreed/desire
- வெகுளிvekuḷianger
- இன்னாச்சொல்iṉṉāccolharsh words
- நான்கும்nāṉkumfour also
- இழுக்காiḻukkāwithout falling into
- இயன்றதுiyaṉṟatuthat which is practiced
- அறம்aṟamvirtue
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two potters, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his beautiful, sturdy pots, admired by all. Bala, however, felt a sharp pang of envy each time Arun's pots sold. He desired the same success, but his own creations were often flawed. One day, a wealthy merchant praised Arun’s work, offering him a large sum for a special order. Bala's heart burned with resentment. He let his anger simmer, and when the merchant approached him, he spoke cruelly, criticizing Arun's work to steal the order. Driven by greed, Bala promised the merchant a cheaper price, but his pots, made in haste and with a bitter heart, crumbled easily. Arun, on the other hand, filled his order with care, and his pots brought joy to the merchant's home. The villagers, witnessing both outcomes, understood the true measure of worth.