Kural #365
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Tamil text
அற்றவர் என்பார் அவாஅற்றார்
மற்றையார் அற்றாக அற்றது இலர்
Aṟṟavar eṉpār avāaṟṟār
Maṟṟaiyār aṟṟāka aṟṟatu ilar
English translation
Those who have renounced desire are the truly renounced; others, despite their renunciation, have renounced nothing.
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Explanation
External renunciation (giving up possessions, wearing saffron) means nothing without inner அவாவறுத்தல் (renouncing desire). The true sannyasi is not one who has given up things, but one who has given up wanting.
விளக்கம்
ஆசையை விட்டவரே துறவி. வெளியே துறந்தும் ஆசை இருந்தால் பயனில்லை. ஆசையறுப்பதே உண்மையான துறவு, அறத்தின் வழி. ஆசை இல்லாவிட்டால் துன்பமில்லை.
Word meanings
- அற்றவர்aṟṟavarthe renounced ones
- என்பார்eṉpārare called
- அவாavādesire
- அற்றார்aṟṟārthose who have cut off
- மற்றையார்maṟṟaiyārothers
- அற்றாகaṟṟākaas renounced
- அற்றதுaṟṟaturenunciation
- இலர்ilardo not have
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two monks. Both had taken vows of poverty, wearing simple robes and owning nothing but a begging bowl. One, named Arul, often grumbled. He envied the merchant’s fine silks and the farmer’s bountiful harvest. He constantly craved a better bowl, a softer bed, a more comfortable life. Though he owned nothing, his mind was filled with longing. The other monk, named Selvan, was always serene. He shared his meager food with others, smiled at every passerby, and found joy in the sunrise. When his bowl was empty, he was content. When it overflowed, he shared. His heart was as open as the sky above. One day, a wealthy traveler, impressed by Selvan’s calm, offered him a chest of gold. Selvan politely declined. Arul, witnessing this, was consumed with regret. He felt a sharp pang of envy, realizing that despite their similar outward appearances, he remained chained by his desires. He still possessed nothing, but he was still not free.