Kural #618
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Tamil text
பொறியின்மை யார்க்கும் பழியன்று
அறிவறிந்து ஆள்வினை இன்மை பழி
Poṟiyiṉmai yārkkum paḻiyaṉṟu
Aṟivaṟintu āḷviṉai iṉmai paḻi
English translation
Lack of fortune is no disgrace to anyone; but knowing what is right and failing to act with effort is truly disgraceful.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar distinguishes between பொறியின்மை (lack of luck/destiny) and ஆள்வினையின்மை (lack of effort). The former is not one's fault - circumstances beyond control are no shame. But அறிவறிந்து (knowing with understanding) yet failing to act - that is true disgrace (பழி). We cannot control fate, but we can control our effort.
விளக்கம்
விதி இல்லாமை இழுக்கல்ல; என்ன செய்யணும்னு தெரிஞ்சும் சோம்பேறியா இருந்தா அதுதான் பெரிய பழி. முயற்சி செஞ்சா வெற்றி நிச்சயம். ஆள்வினையுடைமை அதிகாரத்துல இது முக்கியம்.
Word meanings
- பொறிpoṟifortune/fate
- இன்மைiṉmailack/absence
- யார்க்கும்yārkkumto anyone
- பழிpaḻidisgrace
- அன்றுaṉṟuis not
- அறிவுaṟivuknowledge
- அறிந்துaṟintuknowing
- ஆள்வினைāḷviṉaiindustrious action
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun toiled tirelessly, year after year, yet the rains often failed, and his crops withered. He grumbled at fate, blaming the heavens for his meager harvest. Bala, however, faced similar challenges. His land was no more fertile, the weather no kinder. Yet, he studied the soil, learned new farming techniques, and worked diligently, even when the sun beat down mercilessly. He sought guidance from the village elder and experimented with different seeds. One year, both farmers' fields were struck by a terrible drought. Arun’s crops failed completely, as they often did. He sighed, defeated. Bala, despite the hardship, had a small, unexpected yield. While his neighbors despaired, Bala shared his harvest, helping those who had given up. Though fortune had not favored him, his effort had made all the difference.