Kural #440
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Tamil text
காதல காதல் அறியாமை உய்க்கிற்பின்
ஏதில ஏதிலார் நூல்
Kātala kātal aṟiyāmai uykkiṟpiṉ
Ētila ētilār nūl
English translation
If one conducts beloved matters without realizing love (for self-interest), then the teachings of strangers become unnecessary.
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Explanation
When people pursue their desires without self-awareness, they become their own worst enemies. They don't need external critics - their own blind attachment destroys them.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 440 விளக்கம்: விரும்பிச் செய்யும் செயல்களை, ஆசையின்றிச் செய்தால், பிறர் குறை சொல்லத் தேவையில்லை. ஆசையே அழிவுக்குக் காரணம். குற்றங்களை நீக்கினால் நன்மை பெறலாம்.
Word meanings
- காதலkātalabeloved/desired things
- காதல்kātallove/attachment
- அறியாமைaṟiyāmaiwithout knowing
- உய்க்கிற்பின்uykkiṟpiṉif conducts
- ஏதிலētilaunnecessary
- ஏதிலார்ētilārstrangers
- நூல்nūlteachings/texts
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a potter named Kumar. He crafted exquisite clay pots, prized throughout the land. Kumar, however, was obsessed with wealth. He saw each pot not as a work of art, but as a coin in his pocket. One day, a wealthy merchant offered Kumar a fortune for a single, perfect pot. Kumar, blinded by the potential riches, rushed the process. He skipped steps, using inferior clay and a hasty firing. The pot, though beautiful on the surface, was weak. The merchant, upon receiving the pot, was delighted, unaware of its flaws. He proudly displayed it. But as the day wore on, the pot, unable to withstand the slightest touch, crumbled into dust. The merchant was furious, and Kumar, bereft of his expected fortune, was left with nothing but regret. He had listened to his greed, not his own understanding of his craft.