Kural #622
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Tamil text
வெள்ளத் தனைய இடும்பை
அறிவுடையான் உள்ளத்தின் உள்ளக் கெடும்
Veḷḷat taṉaiya iṭumpai
Aṟivuṭaiyāṉ uḷḷattiṉ uḷḷak keṭum
English translation
Troubles vast as a flood will vanish when pondered by the mind of a wise person.
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Explanation
Even flood-like (வெள்ளம்) troubles (இடும்பை) disappear when a wise person (அறிவுடையான்) thinks about them (உள்ளக்கெடும் - perish upon reflection). The image is powerful: imagine a devastating flood that simply evaporates when wisdom is applied. This teaches that mental strength and clear thinking can dissolve seemingly overwhelming problems.
விளக்கம்
வெள்ளம் போல் துன்பம் வந்தாலும், அறிவுடையோர் மனதால் அதை ஆராய்ந்தால் நீங்கிவிடும். இடுக்கண் அழியாமை அதிகாரத்தில், மன உறுதியால் பெரிய கஷ்டத்தையும் வெல்லலாம் என்பது இதன் பொருள். சிந்தித்து செயல்பட்டால் துன்பம் இல்லை.
Word meanings
- வெள்ளம்veḷḷamflood
- தனையtaṉaiyalike/as much as
- இடும்பைiṭumpaitroubles/suffering
- அறிவுடையான்aṟivuṭaiyāṉthe wise one
- உள்ளத்தின்uḷḷattiṉby the mind
- உள்ளuḷḷawhen pondered
- கெடும்keṭumwill perish
Story behind this kural
The old farmer, Elango, watched in despair as the river swelled. A torrential rain had transformed the gentle stream into a raging torrent, threatening to swallow his rice fields. Panic gripped the village. Many villagers wept, convinced their livelihoods were lost. Elango, however, sat calmly on his porch. He closed his eyes, picturing the overflowing river, the vulnerable crops, and the desperate faces around him. He considered the flood's source, its path, and the likely duration of the storm. He recalled the strong earthen walls he had built around his fields. Hours later, the rain subsided. The river began to recede. While other farmers surveyed the damage, wailing, Elango quietly began reinforcing his walls. His fields, though tested, were largely intact. He had lost some crops, but his harvest was far from ruined. He set about organizing the villagers to help clear debris. The flood, which had seemed insurmountable, yielded to his thoughtful response.