Kural #699
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Tamil text
நெருநல் உளனொருவன் இன்றில்லை என்னும்
பெருமை உடைத்துஇவ் வுலகு
Nerunal uḷaṉoruvaṉ iṉṟillai eṉṉum
Perumai uṭaittuiv vulaku
English translation
This world has the power to say "yesterday he existed, today he is no more" - such is its nature.
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Explanation
A sobering reminder: worldly position is precarious. The world (உலகு) can say of anyone, "Yesterday he was here (நெருநல் உளன்), today he is no more (இன்று இல்லை)." Royal favor is fickle.
விளக்கம்
நேற்று இருந்தவர் இன்று இல்லாமல் போகும் நிலையாமையை இவ்வுலகம் காட்டும். அரசரின் தயவு நிலையற்றது என்பதை உணர்ந்து, கவனமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இது "மன்னரைச் சேர்ந்தொழுகல்" அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கிய கருத்து.
Word meanings
- நெருநல்nerunalyesterday
- உளன்uḷaṉhe existed
- ஒருவன்oruvaṉone person
- இன்றுiṉṟutoday
- இல்லைillaiis not
- என்னும்eṉṉumsaying
- பெருமைperumaigreatness/power
- உடைத்துuṭaittuhas
- இவ்வுலகுivvulakuthis world
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village, lived a wealthy merchant named Varun. His granaries overflowed, his coffers clinked with gold, and the King often sought his counsel. Varun, puffed up with pride, built a grand mansion, the tallest in the village, its windows overlooking all. He boasted of his power, his influence, and how he would live forever. One day, a terrible storm swept through the land. The river, swollen with rain, burst its banks. The village was flooded. While others scrambled to safety, Varun remained, sure his mansion was invincible. But the raging water undermined the foundations. The mansion crumbled, and Varun was lost to the flood. The next morning, the villagers, returning to survey the damage, shook their heads. "Yesterday, Varun was the wealthiest man," they murmured. "Today, he is gone." The wind whispered through the empty space where his mansion stood, a constant, solemn reminder.