Kural #479
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Tamil text
அளவறிந்து வாழாதான் வாழ்க்கை
உளபோல இல்லாகித் தோன்றாக் கெடும்
Aḷavaṟintu vāḻātāṉ vāḻkkai
Uḷapōla illākit tōṉṟāk keṭum
English translation
The life of one who lives without knowing his limits will vanish, appearing to exist but actually not.
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Explanation
Those who ignore their limitations create an illusion of prosperity that eventually collapses. Their life seems substantial but lacks foundation. Like a mirage, it appears real but dissolves upon closer examination.
விளக்கம்
தன் வலிமையை அறியாமல் வாழ்பவன் வாழ்க்கை இருப்பது போல் தோன்றும், ஆனால் உண்மையில் அழிந்துவிடும். இது 'வலியறிதல்' அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து. நம் சக்திக்கு மீறி செயல்பட்டால், எல்லாம் வீணாகும். ஆகையால், நம் திறமை அறிந்து வாழ வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- அளவுaḷavulimit/measure
- அறிந்துaṟintuknowing
- வாழாதான்vāḻātāṉone who does not live
- வாழ்க்கைvāḻkkailife
- உளuḷaexisting
- போலpōlalike
- இல்லாகிillākibecoming non-existent
- தோன்றாtōṉṟānot appearing
- கெடும்keṭumwill perish
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a shimmering lake, lived a potter named Arun. He was known for his beautiful clay pots, and soon his fame spread. He began to believe he could create anything. One day, he decided to craft a grand palace from clay, bigger than any dwelling in the land. He gathered more clay than he could handle, enlisting the help of many villagers. Days turned into weeks, and the palace began to take shape, though cracks appeared from the weight. Arun, blinded by his ambition, ignored the warnings. He kept adding more and more clay, pushing himself and his resources beyond their limits. Finally, on the day of the grand unveiling, the palace crumbled. The villagers scattered, and Arun was left standing amidst the ruins, his dream turned to dust. All that remained were fragments of what once seemed so promising.