Kural #396
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Tamil text
தொட்டனைத் தூறும் மணற்கேணி
மாந்தர்க்குக் கற்றனைத் தூறும் அறிவு
Toṭṭaṉait tūṟum maṇaṟkēṇi
Māntarkkuk kaṟṟaṉait tūṟum aṟivu
English translation
As water springs up in proportion to the depth of digging in a sandy well, so wisdom springs in proportion to learning.
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Explanation
A beautiful analogy: மணல்கேணி (sand well) yields water proportional to digging depth. Similarly, அறிவு (wisdom) flows in proportion to கற்றல் (learning). The more you dig/learn, the more springs forth.
விளக்கம்
மணலில் தோண்டத் தோண்ட நீர் ஊறுவது போல, கற்கக் கற்க அறிவு பெருகும். கல்வி அதிகாரத்தில், எவ்வளவு படிக்கிறோமோ அவ்வளவு ஞானம் கிடைக்கும் என்பதே இதன் பொருள். முயற்சி செய்தால் அறிவு ஊற்றாக வரும்.
Word meanings
- தொட்டனைத்துtoṭṭaṉaittuas much as dug
- ஊறும்ūṟumsprings up
- மணல்maṇalsand
- கேணிkēṇiwell
- மாந்தர்க்குmāntarkkufor people
- கற்றனைத்துkaṟṟaṉaittuas much as learned
- அறிவுaṟivuwisdom
Story behind this kural
In a parched village lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, content with surface knowledge, tilled the easy topsoil, his harvests meager. Bala, however, relentlessly dug deep, studying the land, the weather, and the secrets held within the earth. When drought struck, Arun's crops withered. He grumbled, blaming fate. Bala, though his fields looked initially dry, kept digging, consulting ancient texts and experimenting with new techniques. He understood the hidden springs beneath the surface. Finally, he struck water. His well, a testament to his perseverance, nourished his crops, while Arun's fields remained barren. Other villagers, seeing Bala's bounty, began to emulate his methods. They realized the value of deep understanding and continuous learning, transforming their own fortunes.