Kural #664
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Tamil text
சொல்லுதல் யார்க்கும் எளிய
அரியவாம் சொல்லிய வண்ணம் செயல்
Collutl yārkkum eḷiya
Ariyavām colliya vaṇṇam ceyal
English translation
Speaking is easy for everyone; doing as one has spoken is difficult.
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Explanation
A timeless truth: words are easy (சொல்லுதல் எளிய), but matching actions to words (சொல்லிய வண்ணம் செயல்) is rare and difficult. This distinguishes true leaders from mere talkers.
விளக்கம்
பேசுவது சுலபம்; சொன்னபடி செய்வது கடினம். 'வினைத்திட்பம்' அதிகாரத்தில், உறுதி கொண்டவர் வாக்கைக் காப்பாற்றுவர். சொல் தவறாமை தலைமைப் பண்பு, வாழ்வில் வெற்றி தரும்.
Word meanings
- சொல்லுதல்collutlspeaking
- யார்க்கும்yārkkumfor everyone
- எளியeḷiyaeasy
- அரியவாம்ariyavāmis difficult
- சொல்லியcolliyaas spoken
- வண்ணம்vaṇṇammanner/way
- செயல்ceyalaction/doing
Story behind this kural
The village elder, a man known for grand pronouncements, declared a well would be dug in the parched fields. "I will provide water for all!" he boomed, gesturing expansively. The villagers cheered, eager for relief from the drought. Days turned into weeks, but no digging commenced. The elder offered only excuses: the tools were faulty, the ground too hard. Meanwhile, a young farmer, quiet and unassuming, silently began to work. He gathered his own tools, dug steadily under the scorching sun, and slowly the earth gave way. He labored alone, never boasting, never complaining. Finally, after months of toil, clear water gushed forth. The villagers rushed to drink, praising the cool, life-giving water. The elder, watching from his porch, merely cleared his throat and mumbled something about the importance of hard work. The farmer simply smiled, offering a cup to the elder, and continued his work, silently and steadily.