Kural #438
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Tamil text
பற்றுள்ளம் என்னும் இவறன்மை
எற்றுள்ளும் எண்ணப் படுவதொன் றன்று
Paṟṟuḷḷam eṉṉum ivaṟaṉmai
Eṟṟuḷḷum eṇṇap paṭuvatoṉ ṟaṉṟu
English translation
The fault called miserly attachment is not considered one among all faults - it is the worst.
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Explanation
Among all character defects, miserly attachment to wealth stands in a category by itself. It is not merely one fault among many - it is so severe that it corrupts everything else.
விளக்கம்
பொருள் மீதுள்ள பேராசை ஒரு கெட்ட குணம். இது மற்ற தவறுகளை விட மோசமானது. "குற்றங்கடிதல்" அதிகாரத்தில், இந்த பேராசையைத் தவிர்க்கச் சொல்கிறார் வள்ளுவர். பேராசை எல்லா நற்குணங்களையும் அழித்துவிடும்.
Word meanings
- பற்றுpaṟṟuattachment
- உள்ளம்uḷḷammind/heart
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- இவறன்மைivaṟaṉmaimiserliness
- எற்றுள்ளும்eṟṟuḷḷumamong all
- எண்ணப்படுவதுeṇṇappaṭuvatuconsidered
- ஒன்றுoṉṟuone
- அன்றுaṉṟuis not
Story behind this kural
In a valley nestled between towering peaks lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun possessed a vast orchard, his trees laden with plump mangoes. Yet, he hoarded his harvest, selling only a pittance, fearing to deplete his wealth. His barns overflowed, but his heart remained empty. Bala, on the other hand, had a modest plot, but he shared his meager yields generously. He gave to the needy, helped those struggling, and his spirit was as bright as the sun. A harsh winter arrived, freezing the valley. Arun’s mangoes rotted in his barns, untouched, while villagers starved. Bala, though his own stores were limited, shared what little he had, organizing a community soup kitchen. He bartered for firewood and warmed the shivering children. When spring returned, Arun’s orchard was barren, his wealth worthless. Bala’s fields, though small, were filled with laughter and the promise of a new harvest, nourished by kindness.