Kural #70
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Tamil text
மகன்தந்தைக் காற்றும் உதவி
இவன்தந்தை என்நோற்றான் கொல்எனும் சொல்
Makaṉtantaik kāṟṟum utavi
Ivaṉtantai eṉṉōṟṟāṉ koleṉum col
English translation
The service a son can render to his father is to make people ask, "What great penance did he perform to beget such a son?"
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Explanation
The chapter concludes magnificently. The greatest gift a son can give his father is not material wealth but reputation. When people see the son's excellence and exclaim, "என் நோற்றான்கொல்?" (What penance did his father perform?), it honors the father supremely. This Tamil phrase became proverbial, used even today to praise outstanding children. The kural suggests that virtuous children are rewards for past good deeds.
விளக்கம்
மக்கட்பேறு அதிகாரத்தில், ஒரு மகன் தன் தந்தை செய்த தவத்தின் பலனாகப் பிறந்தான் என ஊரார் சொல்லும்படி வாழ்வதே சிறந்த உதவி. நல்ல பிள்ளைகள் தந்தைக்குப் பெருமை சேர்ப்பதே அறம். இதுவே குறளின் நீதி.
Word meanings
- மகன்makaṉson
- தந்தைக்குtantaikkuto the father
- ஆற்றும்āṟṟumthat can be rendered
- உதவிutavihelp/service
- இவன்ivaṉthis person's
- தந்தைtantaifather
- என்eṉwhat
- நோற்றான்nōṟṟāṉdid he perform as penance
- கொல்kolI wonder (interrogative particle)
- எனும்eṉumcalled/saying
- சொல்colword/statement
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived an old potter named Kumar. He was known for his simple life and the beautiful clay pots he crafted. Kumar's son, Ravi, was a renowned healer, traveling far and wide, easing suffering with his knowledge of herbs and the kindness in his heart. One day, a wealthy merchant, stricken with a mysterious illness, arrived in the village. Many healers had failed, but Ravi’s touch and remedies brought the merchant back to health. News of this spread quickly. Villagers gathered, murmuring in awe. "Such skill! Such compassion!" they said. "What good fortune to be healed by such a man!" As they spoke, an old woman, her face etched with years of wisdom, turned to Kumar. "Tell us, old potter," she asked, her eyes shining, "what great deeds did you perform to beget such a son?"