Kural #740
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Tamil text
ஆள்ணன் ஆக்கம் குடியினால்
ஆள்ணிப் பெருக்கத்தாற் பேரா நாடு
Āḷuṇaṉ ākkam kuṭiyiṉāl
Āḷuṇip perukkattāṟ pērā nāṭu
English translation
A country's prosperity comes from its people; when governed well, it flourishes through the abundance of its population.
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Explanation
The true wealth of a nation lies in its citizens. Through proper governance that nurtures and multiplies the population, the country achieves enduring greatness and prosperity. People, not resources alone, make a nation great.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 740-ன் விளக்கம்: ஒரு நாட்டின் வளம் அதன் மக்களே. நல்லாட்சி மக்கட் தொகையை பெருக்கும்; நாட்டை உயர்த்தும். குடிமக்களே நாட்டின் உண்மையான செல்வம். இது நாடு அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கிய கருத்தை விளக்குகிறது.
Word meanings
- ஆள்āḷperson/people
- ஊண்ūṇfood/sustenance
- ஆக்கம்ākkamprosperity/development
- குடிkuṭipeople/citizens
- இனால்iṉālby/through
- ஆள்āḷgoverning/ruling
- நிnistanding/establishing
- பெருக்கம்perukkamabundance/multiplication
- தால்tālby/through
- பேராpērāgreat/famous
- நாடுnāṭucountry
Story behind this kural
In the kingdom of Eldoria, King Alaric focused solely on gold. He taxed the farmers heavily, filled the royal treasury, and built grand, empty palaces. The kingdom’s fields lay fallow, and the villagers, burdened by taxes, slowly dwindled. Across the mountains, in the neighboring village of Solara, Queen Lyra ruled differently. She encouraged families, offered free education, and ensured fair trade. Though Solara’s treasury was modest, its markets thrived, and children played in every street. The land was lush with crops, and the people, happy and healthy, continued to grow in number. One harsh winter, a blight struck Eldoria's crops, and the kingdom faced famine. King Alaric, surrounded by gold, found himself with an empty storehouse. Meanwhile, Solara, with its full granaries and strong community, welcomed refugees from Eldoria, sharing its bounty. The people of Eldoria learned that true prosperity was not in glittering treasures but in the well-being and abundance of its citizens.