Kural #612
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Tamil text
வினைக்கண் வினைகெடல் ஓம்பல்
வினைக்குறை தீர்ந்தாரின் தீர்ந்தன்று உலகு
Viṉaikkaṇ viṉaikeṭal ōmpal
Viṉaikkuṟai tīrntāriṉ tīrntaṉṟu ulaku
English translation
Guard against slackening in the midst of work; the world abandons those who abandon their tasks incomplete.
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Explanation
A practical warning: don't lose momentum mid-task. The phrase வினைக்கண் வினைகெடல் means "ruining work while working." Those who leave work incomplete (வினைக்குறை) will find the world has abandoned them (தீர்ந்தன்று உலகு). Consistency and follow-through are essential - starting is not enough, one must finish.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 612 விளக்கம்: வேலை செய்யும்போது சோம்பேறித்தனம் கூடாது. வேலையை முடிக்காமல் விட்டால், உலகம் நம்மை கைவிடும். ஆள்வினையுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், முயற்சி முக்கியம் என வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். முயற்சி செய்து வேலையை முடிப்பதே சிறப்பு.
Word meanings
- வினைக்கண்viṉaikkaṇwhile working
- வினைviṉaiwork
- கெடல்keṭalbeing ruined
- ஓம்பல்ōmpalguard against
- குறைkuṟaideficiency/incomplete
- தீர்ந்தார்tīrntārthose who abandoned
- தீர்ந்தன்றுtīrntaṉṟuhas abandoned
- உலகுulakuthe world
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a lush green valley lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Both began sowing their fields with rice seeds at the same time. Arun worked with tireless energy, clearing stones, tilling the soil, and ensuring the irrigation channels were flowing freely. He toiled from sunrise to sunset. Bala, however, started strong. But as the sun grew hotter, and the work became more strenuous, his enthusiasm waned. He began to take longer breaks, chatting with passersby and neglecting his fields. Weeds choked his young rice plants. When the harvest season arrived, Arun's fields overflowed with golden grains. His barn was full, and his family had enough to eat and trade. Bala, however, found his harvest meager. He had little to show for his efforts, his barn nearly empty. He watched Arun's success with envy, regretting the moments he had chosen rest over work.