Kural #375
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நல்லவை எல்லாஅந் தீயவாம்
தீயவும் நல்லவாம் செல்வம் செயற்கு
Nallavai ellāan tīyavām
Tīyavum nallavām celvam ceyaṟku
English translation
In the pursuit of wealth, all good things can become bad, and bad things can become good.
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Explanation
Fate transforms values: what seems good may lead to ruin, while apparent evils may bring fortune. This moral relativism applies specifically to wealth-acquisition, where circumstances determine outcomes.
விளக்கம்
செல்வம் சேர்க்கும் முயற்சியில், நல்ல விஷயங்கள் கூட கெட்டதாக மாறலாம். கெட்ட விஷயங்கள் கூட நல்ல பலன் தரலாம். ஊழ்வினையின் வலிமையால், எது நன்மை எது தீமை என்று உறுதியாக சொல்ல முடியாது. பேராசை இல்லாமல் அறவழியில் செல்வம் சேர்ப்பதே சிறந்தது.
Word meanings
- நல்லவைnallavaigood things
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- தீயவாம்tīyavāmbecome bad
- தீயவும்tīyavumbad things also
- நல்லவாம்nallavāmbecome good
- செல்வம்celvamwealth
- செயற்குceyaṟkuin making/pursuit
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village, lived a farmer named Arul. He yearned for wealth. One year, a devastating flood ruined his crops, leaving him with nothing. His neighbors, pitying him, offered him a small plot of land near the forest, considered useless for farming. Arul, disheartened, reluctantly agreed. He cleared the land, and to his surprise, the soil was incredibly fertile. His harvest that year was bountiful, far exceeding his previous yields. He grew rich, his success a beacon in the village. Meanwhile, a merchant named Selvan, known for his shrewd dealings, bought a large, fertile field at a low price, anticipating a good harvest. However, a sudden blight struck, destroying everything. Selvan lost his entire investment, his reputation tarnished. Arul, once seen as unfortunate, became prosperous. Selvan, once admired for his business acumen, fell into disgrace. The fickle hand of fortune had reshaped their destinies, proving that what seems a loss can be a gain, and what seems a gain can be a loss.