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Kural #532

Wealth· பொருள்Vigilance· பொச்சாவாமை

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Tamil text

பொச்சாப்புக் கொல்லும் புகழை

அறிவினை நிச்ச நிரப்புக்கொன் றாங்கு

Poccāppuk kollum pukaḻai

Aṟiviṉai nicca nirappukkoṉ ṟāṅku

English translation

Negligence destroys fame and wisdom, just as persistent poverty destroys dignity.

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Explanation

Just as continuous poverty (நிச்ச நிரப்பு) erodes a person's self-respect, carelessness (பொச்சாப்பு) steadily destroys reputation (புகழ்) and intelligence (அறிவு). Both are slow killers.

விளக்கம்

பொச்சாப்பு எனும் மறதி புகழையும் அறிவையும் அழிக்கும். வறுமை மானத்தைக் கெடுப்பது போல, கவனமின்மை நம் நற்பெயரைக் கெடுக்கும். "பொச்சாவாமை" அதிகாரத்தில், விழிப்போடு இருக்க வேண்டியதன் அவசியத்தை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.

Word meanings

  • பொச்சாப்புpoccāppunegligence
  • கொல்லும்kollumkills/destroys
  • புகழைpukaḻaifame
  • அறிவினைaṟiviṉaiwisdom
  • நிச்சம்niccamdaily/persistent
  • நிரப்புnirappupoverty
  • கொன்றாங்குkoṉṟāṅkujust as it kills

Story behind this kural

In a sun-drenched village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his diligence. He meticulously tended his fields, checking for weeds and pests daily. His harvests were bountiful, and his name echoed with respect throughout the land. Bala, however, was often distracted. He’d spend his mornings chatting with friends, leaving the farm work for later. “There’s always tomorrow,” he’d chuckle, dismissing any warnings. Weeds choked his crops, and pests devoured his harvest. One season, a terrible storm ravaged the village. Arun, with his well-maintained fields, weathered the storm with minimal loss. Bala, however, lost everything. His once-fertile land lay barren, and his reputation crumbled alongside his ruined crops. He was left with nothing. Arun, though saddened by his neighbor’s plight, quietly offered Bala assistance, knowing that a helping hand was the best way to move forward.