Kural #535
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Tamil text
முன்னுறக் காவாது இழுக்கியான்
தன்பிழை பின்னூறு இரங்கி விடும்
Muṉṉuṟak kāvātu iḻukkiyāṉ
Taṉpiḻai piṉṉūṟu iraṅki viṭum
English translation
He who fails to guard beforehand and then errs will later regret his own mistake.
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Explanation
Prevention is better than regret. Those who do not take precautions (முன்னுறக் காவாது) will make mistakes (இழுக்கு), and later (பின்னூறு) will grieve uselessly. Proactive vigilance prevents reactive sorrow.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 535-ன் விளக்கம்: எந்த செயலையும் செய்வதற்கு முன் சிந்தித்து கவனமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். அப்படி இல்லாமல் தவறு செய்தால், பிறகு வருத்தப்பட்டு பயனில்லை. "பொச்சாவாமை" அதிகாரத்தில், விழிப்புடன் இருப்பது எவ்வளவு முக்கியம் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது.
Word meanings
- முன்muṉbefore
- உறuṟaproperly
- காவாதுkāvātunot guarding
- இழுக்கியான்iḻukkiyāṉone who errs
- தன்taṉown
- பிழைpiḻaimistake
- பின்னூறுpiṉṉūṟulater
- இரங்கிiraṅkiregretting
- விடும்viṭumwill
Story behind this kural
The old farmer, Elan, prepared for the monsoon season. He inspected his home, reinforcing the thatched roof. He mended the fences around his fields, and he ensured his family had ample stores of grain. His neighbor, Kumar, scoffed, "Why all the fuss, Elan? The rains are weeks away! You worry too much." Kumar spent his time feasting and celebrating. He told himself there was plenty of time. When the torrential rains arrived, Elan’s home stood firm, and his crops were protected. Kumar's roof leaked, and the flood washed away his harvest. He watched, heartbroken, as his family shivered, hungry and afraid. He regretted his choices, the time wasted, and the carelessness he had shown. He had to rebuild everything, a task that would take months. He wished he had listened to the old farmer.