Kural #429
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Tamil text
எதிரதாக் காக்கும் அறிவினார்க் கில்லை
அதிர வருவதோர் நோய்
Etiratāk kākkum aṟiviṉārk killai
Atira varuvator nōy
English translation
For the wise who guard against future dangers, no calamity will come to terrify them.
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Explanation
Prevention is better than cure. Those with wisdom anticipate problems and prepare for them. They are never caught off guard because they have already planned for contingencies.
விளக்கம்
எதிர்காலத்தில் வரக்கூடிய துன்பத்தை முன்னரே அறிந்து காப்பவர்களுக்கு, திடீரென வரும் எந்த நோயும் இல்லை. அறிவுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், விவேகமுள்ளவர்கள் ஆபத்தை உணர்ந்து தற்காத்துக்கொள்வார்கள் என்பதே கருத்து. முன்யோசனையே பாதுகாப்பு.
Word meanings
- எதிரதுetiratuthe future
- ஆகākafor
- காக்கும்kākkumguarding
- அறிவினார்க்குaṟiviṉārkkufor the wise
- இல்லைillaithere is not
- அதிரatirato tremble/terrify
- வருவதுvaruvatucoming
- ஓர்ōrone/any
- நோய்nōyaffliction/calamity
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a vast forest, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, known for his foresight, observed the crows gathering and the wind shifting. He built a sturdy barn before the monsoon arrived. Bala, however, dismissed the signs, focusing only on the present harvest. He reasoned, "Why worry about rain when the sun shines?" The monsoon arrived with fury. Arun's barn sheltered his grain, while Bala's meagerly protected harvest was destroyed by the storm. His family faced a harsh winter. Arun, sharing his surplus, helped Bala rebuild. As they worked, Bala marveled at Arun's foresight. He realized that a little planning could avert great suffering. He learned that looking ahead brought peace, while ignoring the future brought hardship.