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Kural #378

Virtue· அறம்Fate· ஊழ்

Last reviewed:

Tamil text

துறப்பார்மன் துப்புர வில்லார்

உறற்பால பண்ணென்னும் ஊழி செறின்

Tuṟappārmaṉ tuppura villār

Uṟaṟpāla paṇṇeṉṉum ūḻi ceṟiṉ

English translation

Those who cannot afford luxuries will renounce when fate denies them what they seek.

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Explanation

When destiny (ஊழ்) decrees suffering, even those with moderate means may be forced into renunciation. Sometimes asceticism is not choice but necessity.

விளக்கம்

செல்வம் இல்லாதவர், விதி வசத்தால் துன்பம் வந்தால், ஆசைகளை விடுவர். ஊழ் வலிமையானது. விருப்பம் இருந்தும் ஏதும் செய்யமுடியாத நிலை வரும். இது ஊழ் அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.

Word meanings

  • துறப்பார்tuṟappārthey will renounce
  • மன்maṉindeed
  • துப்புரவுtuppuravuluxuries/means
  • இல்லார்illārthose without
  • உறல்uṟalexperiencing
  • பாலpāladestined
  • பண்ணுpaṇṇucause
  • ஊழிūḻifate
  • செறின்ceṟiṉif oppresses

Story behind this kural

In a village nestled beside a parched riverbed lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun owned fertile land and a well-fed ox. He dreamt of expanding his farm. Bala, however, toiled on a small plot, barely enough to feed his family. He yearned for a larger harvest. A harsh drought descended upon the land. Arun’s crops withered, his ox grew weak, and his dreams dissolved. He was forced to sell his land to survive. He wandered, seeking any work. Bala, whose meager plot was less affected, shared his meager harvest with his neighbors. He continued to farm, sustained by a quiet dignity. Though he still lacked much, he possessed something Arun now lacked: a home.