Kural #760
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Tamil text
இரந்துஎன் புகலென்னான் ஈதலின் தென்சொல்லின்
தோன்றின் உயிர்தொலை யான்
Irantuēṉ pukaleṉṉāṉ ītalin teṉcolliṉ
Tōṉḍriṉ uyirttolai yāṉ
English translation
Rather than beg, one would say "I will not speak"; rather than seek charity in soft words, one would choose to lose life itself.
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Explanation
This kural captures the ultimate pride and dignity—noble souls prefer death to the humiliation of begging, choosing silence and mortality over the shame of requesting alms with honeyed speech.
விளக்கம்
இரந்து யாசிப்பதைவிட பேசாமல் இருப்பதே மேல். இனிய சொற்களால் தானம் கேட்பதைவிட உயிரை விடுவதே சிறப்பு. பொருள் செயல் வகையில், மானம் காத்து வாழ்தலே முக்கியம் என்பதை இது உணர்த்துகிறது. யாசகம் இழிவானது.
Word meanings
- இரந்துirantubegging
- என்ēṉwhat
- புகல்pukalspeak/say
- என்னான்eṉṉāṉwill not say
- ஈதல்ītalgiving/charity
- இன்iṉthan
- தேன்tēṉhoney/sweet
- சொல்லின்colliṉwith words
- தோன்றின்tōṉḍriṉappearing/if comes
- உயிர்uyirlife
- தொலையான்tolai yāṉwill lose
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a parched river, lived an elderly farmer named Arul. A severe drought had withered his crops, leaving him with nothing. His neighbor, a wealthy merchant, offered him food, but only if Arul would beg. "Just a few words of praise for my generosity," the merchant had insisted. Arul, his stomach aching with hunger, looked at the merchant, then at his empty hands. He thought of his late wife, her teachings of self-respect echoing in his ears. He turned away from the offered food. Days turned into weeks. Arul, weakened but unyielding, spent his days mending his tools, even though he knew he wouldn't use them. One day, a traveling sage noticed Arul’s frail form but saw the quiet dignity in his eyes. The sage shared his meager food with Arul without a word. Arul, his eyes brimming with silent gratitude, ate. He felt a different kind of strength returning to him.