Kural #656
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Tamil text
ஈன்றாள் பசிகாண்பான் ஆயினும்
செய்யற்க சான்றோர் பழிக்கும் வினை
Īṉṟāḷ pacikāण்பān āyiṉum
Ceyyaṟka cāṉṟōr paḻikkum viṉai
English translation
Even to feed one's starving mother, one should not do what the noble ones would condemn.
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Explanation
This powerful kural presents an extreme moral test: even to save one's own mother (ஈன்றாள்) from starvation, one must not commit acts that the wise (சான்றோர்) would condemn. Ethics are non-negotiable.
விளக்கம்
ஈன்ற தாயின் பசியைப் போக்கக்கூட, நல்லவர்கள் வெறுக்கும் செயல்களைச் செய்யாதே. "வினைத்தூய்மை" அதிகாரத்தில், எந்த நிலையிலும் ஒழுக்கத்தை விடக்கூடாது என்பதே இதன் பொருள். அறம் தவறாத செயலே சிறந்தது.
Word meanings
- ஈன்றாள்īṉṟāḷshe who gave birth/mother
- பசிpacihunger
- காண்பான்kāṇpāṉto see/to relieve
- ஆயினும்āyiṉumeven if
- செய்யற்கceyyaṟkado not do
- சான்றோர்cāṉṟōrthe noble/wise
- பழிக்கும்paḻikkumwould condemn
- வினைviṉaiaction
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Arul. His mother was ill and food was scarce. One day, a wealthy merchant offered Arul a bag of gold coins for a single, rare timber, forbidden by the village elders because it was sacred. Arul’s mother was weak, and the gold could buy medicine and food. He went to the sacred grove, his axe heavy in his hand. He looked at the ancient tree, its branches reaching towards the heavens. He saw his mother's face in its bark. He remembered her stories of honesty and respect for the earth. Arul returned to the village empty-handed. He explained to the merchant, who scoffed and left. The villagers, witnessing his choice, shared what little they had. Though his mother's illness was a struggle, Arul found peace in his actions. The forest seemed to hum with a gentle approval, and the villagers regarded him with a newfound respect.