Kural #614
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Tamil text
தாளாண்மை இல்லாதான் வேளாண்மை
பேடிகை வாளாண்மை போலக் கெடும்
Tāḷāṇmai illātāṉ vēḷāṇmai
Pēṭikai vāḷāṇmai pōlak keṭum
English translation
The generosity of one without industrious effort will perish like the valor of a coward holding a sword.
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Explanation
A powerful comparison: a coward (பேடி) holding a sword (வாள்) cannot use it effectively - the weapon is wasted. Similarly, one without work ethic (தாளாண்மை இல்லாதான்) cannot sustain generosity (வேளாண்மை). Without earning power, charitable intentions remain empty. The parallel structure is beautiful: தாளாண்மை - வேளாண்மை - வாளாண்மை.
விளக்கம்
தாளாண்மை இல்லாதவன் செய்யும் உதவி, பேடி கையில் உள்ள வாள் போல் பயனற்றுப் போகும். முயற்சி இல்லாமல் வரும் செல்வம் நிலைக்காது. ஆள்வினையுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், உழைப்பின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை வள்ளுவர் வலியுறுத்துகிறார்.
Word meanings
- தாளாண்மைtāḷāṇmaiindustrious effort
- இல்லாதான்illātāṉone without
- வேளாண்மைvēḷāṇmaigenerosity
- பேடிpēṭicoward
- கைkaihand
- வாளாண்மைvāḷāṇmaisword-wielding valor
- போலpōlalike
- கெடும்keṭumwill perish
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a lush green valley, lived a generous man named Arun. He often shared his food and gave away his clothes. The villagers admired his kindness, yet his own house was always in disrepair. He had no farm, no trade, and spent his days resting under the shade of a large banyan tree, dreaming of helping others. One year, a terrible drought struck. The crops withered, and the river dried up. Arun, with nothing saved, found himself with empty hands. He could offer no help, for he had nothing to give. He watched his neighbors, who had worked diligently through the years, share their stored grains and water. Their generosity, born of their labor, sustained the village. Arun, with his kind heart but idle hands, could only offer his regrets. His intentions, though good, were like a beautiful song sung without a voice to carry it.