Kural #506
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Tamil text
அற்றாரைத் தேறுதல் ஓம்புக
மற்றவர் பற்றிலர் நாணார் பழி
Aṟṟārait tēṟutal ōmpuka
Maṟṟavar paṟṟilar nāṇār paḻi
English translation
Beware of trusting those who have no attachments, for they have nothing to lose and will not be ashamed of blame.
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Explanation
Those without family, property, or social bonds (பற்றிலர்) are dangerous to trust. Having nothing to lose, they do not fear disgrace (நாணார் பழி). Bonds create accountability; the unattached may act without consequence.
விளக்கம்
பற்றற்றவரை நம்புவது ஆபத்து. அவர்களுக்கு இழப்பதற்கு ஏதுமில்லை; அதனால் பழிக்கு அஞ்ச மாட்டார்கள். தெரிந்து தெளிதல் அதிகாரத்தில், யார் நம்பிக்கைக்கு உரியவர் என்பதை இக்குறள் விளக்குகிறது. பொறுப்பில்லாதவர்களை நம்புவது தவறு.
Word meanings
- அற்றாரைaṟṟāraithose without (attachments)
- தேறுதல்tēṟutaltrusting
- ஓம்புகōmpukaavoid/beware
- மற்றுmaṟṟufor/because
- அவர்avarthey
- பற்றுpaṟṟuattachment
- இலர்ilarwithout
- நாணார்nāṇārwill not be ashamed
- பழிpaḻiblame/disgrace
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, lived two merchants, Elara and Silas. Elara, with a wife and children, invested wisely, building a reputation for honesty. Silas, a solitary man with no family, often boasted of his daring ventures. One year, a devastating drought struck, and the villagers struggled. Elara, despite his own losses, offered grain on credit, knowing his neighbors would repay him when the rains returned. Silas, however, saw opportunity. He proposed a trade: the villagers’ remaining livestock for a promise of water, which he claimed to have secured from a distant land. Desperate, many agreed. Silas vanished with the livestock, never to be seen again. Elara, though strained, continued to help the villagers. When the rains finally came, Elara was repaid, and the village slowly recovered. Silas’s empty promises left only hardship and regret. The villagers learned a hard lesson about where to place their trust.