Kural #496
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
கடலோடா கால்வல் நெடுந்தேர்
கடலோடும் நாவாயும் ஓடா நிலத்து
Kaṭalōṭā kālval neṭuntēr
Kaṭalōṭum nāvāyum ōṭā nilattu
English translation
The swift-wheeled chariot cannot go on the sea; the ship that sails the sea cannot go on land.
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Explanation
Each vehicle has its proper domain. The chariot excels on land but fails at sea; the ship masters the ocean but cannot travel on earth. Understanding the proper domain for each tool and strategy is essential wisdom.
விளக்கம்
கடலுக்கு தேர் போகாது, நிலத்தில் கப்பல் ஓடாது. ஒவ்வொன்றுக்கும் ஏற்ற இடமுண்டு. இடமறிந்து செயல்படுவதே அறிவுடைமை. இது இடனறிதல் அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- கடல்kaṭalsea
- ஓடாōṭāwill not go
- கால்kālwheels
- வல்valstrong
- நெடுந்தேர்neṭuntērgreat chariot
- ஓடும்ōṭumthat goes
- நாவாய்nāvāyship
- நிலத்துnilattuon land
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village nestled beside a vast desert and a sparkling sea lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, a skilled carpenter, crafted magnificent chariots, renowned for their speed across the sands. Bala, a fisherman, built sturdy boats that danced upon the waves. One day, Arun, envious of Bala’s success, decided to prove his chariot’s superiority. He dragged his finest creation to the shore, determined to race across the ocean. The chariot, magnificent on land, sank swiftly, its wheels useless in the water. Meanwhile, Bala, admiring Arun's chariots, attempted to drive his boat across the desert, thinking speed was all that mattered. The boat, designed for the sea, was soon stuck fast in the sand, unable to move an inch. Both brothers, humbled and wiser, returned to their crafts. Arun continued to build swift chariots for the desert, and Bala sailed the seas in his sturdy boats.