Kural #476
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Tamil text
நுனிக்கொம்பர் ஏறினார் அஃதிறந்து ஊக்கின்
உயிர்க்கு இறுதியாகி விடும்
Nuṉikkompar ēṟiṉār aḵtiṟantu ūkkiṉ
Uyirkku iṟutiyāki viṭum
English translation
If one who has climbed to the tip of a branch attempts to go beyond, it will prove fatal.
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Explanation
Knowing when to stop is as important as knowing when to advance. Like a climber who has reached the outermost branch, pushing further leads to disaster. Success requires recognizing the point of maximum safe extension.
விளக்கம்
ஒரு மரக்கிளையின் நுனியில் ஏறியவர், மேலும் ஏற முயன்றால் அது உயிருக்கே ஆபத்தாகும். 'வலியறிதல்' அதிகாரத்தில், தன் வலிமை அறிந்து செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்பதே கருத்து. அளவுக்கு மீறினால் அழிவு நிச்சயம் என்பதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- நுனிnuṉitip
- கொம்பர்komparbranch
- ஏறினார்ēṟiṉārone who climbed
- அஃதுaḵtuthat
- இறந்துiṟantubeyond
- ஊக்கின்ūkkiṉif attempts
- உயிர்க்குuyirkkuto life
- இறுதிiṟutiend
- ஆகிākibecoming
- விடும்viṭumwill happen
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a towering mountain, lived a woodcutter named Arul. He was known for his strength and ambition. One day, he began climbing the tallest tree in the forest, seeking the finest wood for the king’s new palace. He reached the thick trunk, then the sturdy branches, each step bringing him closer to his goal. Finally, he neared the top, the wind whipping around him. He paused, the branch he stood on swaying precariously. He had almost reached the most desirable wood. His eager eyes spotted a slightly higher, thinner branch promising even finer timber. Ignoring the warning of the wind and his own weary muscles, Arul stretched towards it. The branch snapped. Arul tumbled down, the coveted wood lost in the fall. The villagers watched, understanding the price of unchecked ambition. They learned a lesson from Arul’s misstep, knowing the value of balance.