Kural #475
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Tamil text
பீலிபெய் சாகாடும் அச்சிறும்
அப்பண்டம் சால மிகுத்துப் பெயின்
Pīlipey cākāṭum acciṟum
Appaṇṭam cāla mikuttup peyiṉ
English translation
Even a cart loaded with peacock feathers will break its axle if too many are loaded.
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Explanation
This beautiful metaphor illustrates that even light burdens become heavy when excessive. Peacock feathers are among the lightest things, yet overloading breaks the axle. Know your capacity and do not exceed it, regardless of how small each burden seems.
விளக்கம்
மயிலிறகு எவ்வளவு இலேசானாலும், அளவுக்கு மீறி வண்டியில் ஏற்றினால் அச்சு முறிந்துவிடும். அதுபோல, நம் சக்திக்கு மீறி எதையும் செய்யக்கூடாது. 'வலியறிதல்' அதிகாரத்தில், நம் பலம் அறிந்து செயல்படுவதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- பீலிpīlipeacock feathers
- பெய்peyloaded
- சாகாடும்cākāṭumeven the cart
- அச்சுaccuaxle
- இறும்iṟumwill break
- அப்பண்டம்appaṇṭamthat load
- சாலcālavery
- மிகுத்துmikuttuexcessively
- பெயின்peyiṉif loaded
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Thiru. He was known for his strong ox and sturdy cart. One day, a merchant offered Thiru a tempting deal: to transport fragrant sandalwood shavings, promising a great reward. Thiru, eager to earn more, readily agreed. The first few trips were easy. The shavings were light, and the reward was generous. Soon, the merchant, greedy for profit, began to pile on more and more shavings. Each layer seemed insignificant, like adding a single feather. Thiru, though his ox strained, continued, blinded by the promise of riches. Finally, as they climbed a steep hill, the cart's axle groaned and snapped with a loud crack. The sandalwood spilled everywhere. Thiru, defeated and his ox weary, could only watch as the merchant’s wealth was lost. He learned a harsh lesson that day.