Kural #380
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Tamil text
ஊழிற் பெருவலி யாவுள
மற்றொன்று சூழினும் தான்முந் துறும்
Ūḻiṟ peruvali yāvuḷa
Maṟṟoṉṟu cūḻiṉum tāṉmun tuṟum
English translation
What is mightier than fate? Even when one plans otherwise, fate prevails first.
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Explanation
The closing kural of the Virtue section makes a powerful statement: nothing exceeds ஊழ் in power. Whatever alternative plans we devise, fate arrives முந்து (first). This concludes the அறத்துப்பால் with humility before cosmic order.
விளக்கம்
ஊழை விட பெரிய சக்தி எதுவுமில்லை. நாம் வேறு எதை திட்டமிட்டாலும், ஊழே முதலில் நடக்கும். இது அறத்தின் முடிவில், விதியின் வலிமையை உணர்த்துகிறது. ஊழ் அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கிய கருத்தும் இதுவே.
Word meanings
- ஊழின்ūḻiṉthan fate
- பெருவலிperuvaligreat power
- யாyāwhat
- உளuḷais there
- மற்றுmaṟṟuother
- ஒன்றுoṉṟuthing
- சூழினும்cūḻiṉumeven if planned
- தான்tāṉitself
- முந்துறும்muntuṟumwill precede/prevail
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Both tilled the rich earth, but their fortunes diverged. Arun, diligent and methodical, planned his crops with precision, calculating every sunrise and rain shower. He built strong fences, believing hard work guaranteed a bountiful harvest. Bala, however, was known for his relaxed approach. He worked the land, but his planning was less rigorous. One year, a terrible storm swept through the valley. Arun's sturdy fences, meant to protect his crops, trapped the floodwaters, ruining his harvest. Bala’s less-structured fields allowed the water to flow freely, and though some crops were lost, most survived. Arun, crestfallen, watched Bala’s thriving field. He had done everything "right," yet fate had decided otherwise. He realized that sometimes, despite the best-laid plans, the unseen hand of destiny plays its part.