Kural #368
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Tamil text
அவாஇல்லார்க்கு இல்லாகும் துன்பம்
அஃதுண்டேல் தவாஅது மேன்மேல் வரும்
Avāillārkku illākum tuṉpam
Aḵtuṇṭēl tavāatu mēṉmēl varum
English translation
For those without desire, there is no sorrow; but where desire exists, sorrow comes endlessly.
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Explanation
A direct cause-and-effect statement: no desire equals no sorrow. But if desire persists, suffering multiplies continuously (மேன்மேல் - again and again). This is the eternal law of karma.
விளக்கம்
ஆசையே துன்பத்திற்குக் காரணம். ஆசை இல்லாதவர்க்குத் துன்பம் இல்லை. ஆசை இருந்தால், துன்பம் திரும்பத் திரும்ப வந்துகொண்டே இருக்கும். ஆசையை ஒழிப்பதே அறம் என்பது இக்குறளின் நீதி.
Word meanings
- அவாavādesire
- இல்லார்க்குillārkkufor those without
- இல்லாகும்illākumwill not be
- துன்பம்tuṉpamsorrow
- அஃதுaḵtuthat (desire)
- உண்டேல்uṇṭēlif exists
- தவாஅதுtavāatuunceasingly
- மேன்மேல்mēṉmēlagain and again
- வரும்varumwill come
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, content with his small hut and daily bread, found joy in the rising sun and the songs of birds. He desired nothing more. Bala, however, craved a grand house, fine clothes, and a field larger than his neighbor's. One year, a wealthy merchant offered a trade: a bag of gold for a single, perfect mango. Arun, happy with his simple life, declined. Bala, consumed by the desire for riches, sold his only cow, hoping to buy the mango and then, with the gold, build his dream home. The mango rotted before he could sell it. Then, the gold was stolen. Bala, filled with sorrow, regretted his choices. Arun, meanwhile, continued to find contentment in the simple things, his heart unburdened. He never understood why his brother was always unhappy.