Kural #697

Wealth· பொருள்Conduct with Kings· மன்னரைச் சேர்ந்தொழுகல்

Last reviewed: 21 May 2026

அறிவறிந்து ஆற்றின் அடங்கப் பெறின்

தீது குன்றேறி நின்றிழிந்தற்று

Aṟivaṟintu āṟṟiṉ aṭaṅkap peṟiṉ

Tītu kuṉṟēṟi niṉṟiḻintaṟṟu

English translation

If one cannot remain humble knowing one's limits, the harm is like climbing a hill and falling off.

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Explanation

Failing to know your limits (அறிவு அறிந்து) and remain humble (அடங்க) before kings leads to a great fall - like climbing a hill (குன்று ஏறி) and tumbling down (இழிந்தற்று). Pride precedes disaster.

விளக்கம்

அரசவை நடத்தை பற்றி இந்தக் குறள் கூறுகிறது. நம் அறிவை உணர்ந்து அடக்கமாக இல்லாவிட்டால், மலையில் ஏறி விழுந்தது போல் தீங்கு வரும். பணிவு இல்லாமை அழிவுக்கு வழிவகுக்கும் என்பதே நீதி.

Word meanings

அறிவுaṟivuknowledge/wisdom
அறிந்துaṟintuknowing
ஆற்றின்āṟṟiṉin the way
அடங்கaṭaṅkahumbly
பெறின்peṟiṉif obtained
தீதுtītuharm
குன்றுkuṉṟuhill
ஏறிēṟiclimbing
நின்றுniṉṟustanding
இழிந்தற்றுiḻintaṟṟulike falling

Story behind this kural

In a prosperous kingdom nestled beside a vast forest, lived a woodcutter named Arul. Known for his strength, Arul could fell the mightiest trees with a single swing. The King, impressed by Arul’s skill, appointed him Royal Woodcutter. Arul, thrilled, quickly forgot his humble beginnings. He demanded the finest tools, the shadiest work hours, and the highest wages. He boasted of his importance, strutting about the palace grounds. His pride grew with each passing day. One day, tasked with felling a giant oak that shadowed the King's garden, Arul, in his arrogance, refused the help of other woodcutters. Climbing the great tree, he began to chop, but his axe slipped. He lost his footing, tumbling down. Though he survived, he was badly injured. The mighty oak remained untouched, and Arul’s pride lay shattered on the ground. He had climbed high, but his fall was far greater.