Kural #621
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Tamil text
இடுக்கண் வருங்கால் நகுக
அதனை அடுத்தூர்வது அஃதொப்ப தில்
Iṭukkaṇ varuṅkāl nakuka
Ataṉai aṭuttūrvatu aḥtoppa til
English translation
When adversity arrives, laugh at it! There is nothing that can conquer troubles like laughter.
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Explanation
What a remarkable opening! Thiruvalluvar prescribes laughter (நகுக - laugh!) as the medicine for troubles. When difficulties come, face them with a smile. The phrase அடுத்தூர்வது means "that which conquers/overcomes." Nothing defeats adversity like a cheerful spirit. This ancient wisdom anticipates modern psychology's understanding of positive thinking.
விளக்கம்
துன்பம் வரும்போது அதைப்பார்த்து சிரி. சிரிப்பைப்போல துன்பத்தை வெல்லும் மருந்து வேறில்லை. "இடுக்கண் அழியாமை" அதிகாரத்தில், மன உறுதியோடு இருக்க வள்ளுவர் சொல்கிறார். தைரியமாக இரு, துன்பம் தானாக போகும்.
Word meanings
- இடுக்கண்iṭukkaṇadversity/hardship
- வருங்கால்varuṅkālwhen it comes
- நகுகnakukalaugh
- அதனைataṉaithat (adversity)
- அடுத்துaṭuttuapproaching/conquering
- ஊர்வதுūrvatuthat which overcomes
- அஃதுaḥtuthat
- ஒப்பதுoppatuequal to
- இல்ilthere is not
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Their fields, usually lush with rice, were ravaged by a sudden storm. The wind had flattened the crops, and despair settled over the village. Arun, upon seeing his ruined harvest, slumped to the ground, his face etched with worry. He lamented the loss, the debt, the coming winter. Bala, however, surveyed his own field with a different expression. He chuckled, a hearty, booming laugh that echoed across the desolate land. "Well," he said to Arun, "at least the wind gave the rice a good massage before the harvest!" He then began to clear the debris, singing a cheerful tune. Arun, initially bewildered, found himself drawn to Bala's infectious spirit. Slowly, he joined him, and soon, other villagers, inspired by their laughter and resilience, joined too. They worked together, rebuilding, replanting, and facing the adversity as one. The harvest was eventually restored, and their laughter echoed with the rhythm of resilience.