Kural #655
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Tamil text
எற்றென்று இரங்குவ செய்யற்க
செய்வானேல் மற்றன்ன செய்யாமை நன்று
Eṟṟeṉṟu iraṅkuva ceyyaṟka
Ceyvāṉēl maṟṟaṉṉa ceyyāmai naṉṟu
English translation
Do not do what will cause regret; if done once, it is better not to repeat it.
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Explanation
Avoid actions that lead to இரங்குவ (regret - asking "why did I do that?"). If you make such a mistake once, at least don't repeat it. Learning from errors is wisdom.
விளக்கம்
செய்யக்கூடாத செயல்களைச் செய்துவிட்டு, "ஏன் செய்தோம்?" என்று வருந்த வேண்டாம். தவறுதலாகச் செய்துவிட்டால், திரும்பச் செய்யாமல் இருப்பதே நல்லது. வினைத்தூய்மை அதிகாரத்தில், செயல்களின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது உணர்த்துகிறது.
Word meanings
- எற்றுeṟṟuwhy/what
- என்றுeṉṟusaying
- இரங்குவiraṅkuvacausing regret
- செய்யற்கceyyaṟkado not do
- செய்வானேல்ceyvāṉēlif one does
- மற்றுmaṟṟuagain
- அன்னaṉṉasuch
- செய்யாமைceyyāmainot doing
- நன்றுnaṉṟugood
Story behind this kural
The young farmer, Arul, was eager to impress the village elder. He boasted he could harvest the rice field in a single day, a task that usually took three. Driven by pride, he worked furiously, neglecting his tools and rushing the work. By sunset, the rice was cut, but much was wasted, scattered on the ground. The elder, observing the mess, gently shook his head. Arul, ashamed, realized his haste had cost him dearly. He’d lost a significant portion of the harvest. He felt the sting of regret. The next season, a neighboring farmer, also wanting to impress the elder, saw Arul's error. He started to work at a fast pace, but soon realized he was making the same mistakes. He paused, remembering Arul’s misfortune. He slowed, worked carefully, and though it took longer, he reaped a bountiful and complete harvest.