Kural #759
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Tamil text
நல்குரவு என்னும் இடும்பையுள்
பல்குரைவாய் தெள்ளாதான் உண்ணும் சுவர்
Nalkuravu eṉṉum iṭumpaiyuḷ
Palkuraivāy teḷḷātāṉ uṇṇum cuvar
English translation
Among the sorrows called poverty, the greatest is eating food without clarity of speech, chewing in silence with many complaints.
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Explanation
The deepest humiliation of destitution is eating charity meals while unable to speak freely, forced to swallow both food and dignity in painful silence filled with unspoken grievances.
விளக்கம்
வறுமையின் கொடுமையில், வாய் திறந்து பேசமுடியாமல், குறை கூறிக்கொண்டே உண்பது மிகக் கொடுமையானது. பொருள் செயல் வகையில், தன்மானத்தை இழக்காமல் செல்வம் சேர்க்க வேண்டும் என்கிறது குறள். பிறரிடம் கையேந்தும் நிலை வேண்டாம்.
Word meanings
- நல்குரவுnalkuravupoverty/lack of giving
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- இடும்பைiṭumpaisorrow/trouble
- உள்uḷamong
- பல்palmany
- குரைkuraicomplaints/words
- வாய்vāymouth
- தெள்ளாதான்teḷḷātāṉwithout clarity/unable to speak
- உண்ணும்uṇṇumeating
- சுவர்cuvartaste/food
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, once prosperous, had lost his farm to a cruel storm. Bala, though a skilled carpenter, struggled to find work. Both were now forced to accept alms from the village elder. Each day, they sat in the elder's hall, receiving a simple meal. Arun, his pride wounded, would eat quickly, his face a mask of shame. He’d barely meet anyone's eyes, and swallowed each bite in strained silence, as if choking on his unspoken woes. Bala, however, ate slowly. He offered thanks to the elder, and when asked, he spoke of his worries, his voice clear and his spirit unbroken. He shared his hopes for the future, his words a balm to the other villagers. Though both brothers shared the same hardship, one found a way to maintain his dignity, and the other lost himself in silent despair. The elder, observing them, found his own heart filled with empathy.