Kural #521
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Tamil text
பற்றற்ற கண்ணும் பழைமைபா ராட்டுதல்
சுற்றத்தார் கண்ணே உள
Paṟṟaṟṟa kaṇṇum paḻaimaipā rāṭṭutal
Cuṟṟattār kaṇṇē uḷa
English translation
Even when attachments are severed, cherishing old bonds is found only among true kinsmen.
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Explanation
True relatives maintain their connection even when material benefits cease. Others may leave when prosperity fades, but genuine kinsmen (சுற்றத்தார்) honor the relationship's history (பழைமை) regardless of current circumstances.
விளக்கம்
பொருள் இல்லாதபோதும், பழைய உறவைப் போற்றுவது சுற்றத்தாரிடமே இருக்கும். செல்வம் குறைந்தாலும், உண்மையான உறவுகள் மாறாது. சுற்றந்தழால் அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். நல்ல உறவைப் பேணிக் காக்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- பற்றுpaṟṟuattachment/bond
- அற்றaṟṟasevered/lost
- கண்ணும்kaṇṇumeven when
- பழைமைpaḻaimaiold bonds/antiquity
- பாராட்டுதல்pārāṭṭutalcherishing/praising
- சுற்றத்தார்cuṟṟattārkinsmen
- கண்ணேkaṇṇēamong
- உளuḷaexists
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Their father, a wealthy merchant, had left them a thriving spice business. For years, they prospered, their lives intertwined with shared meals and laughter. But a harsh drought struck, crippling their trade. Soon, they lost everything. Bala, burdened by debt and shame, quietly left the village, seeking fortune elsewhere. He never looked back. Arun, however, stayed. Though poor, he continued to tend their father's old, neglected rice field. One day, Bala returned, now a successful trader. He saw Arun, tilling the dry earth. "Brother," he said, "I have wealth now. Come, let us rebuild our lives together." Arun smiled, his face etched with hardship but his eyes bright. "Welcome, brother. The field still yields a little, and the river still flows. Let us share what we have, as we always did."