Kural #776
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Tamil text
விழுப்புண் படாதநாள் எல்லாம்
வழுக்கினுள் வைக்கும்தன் நாளை எடுத்து
Viḻuppuṇ paṭātanāḷ ellām
Vaḻukkiṉuḷ vaikkumtaṉ nāḷai eṭuttu
English translation
A warrior counts as wasted all days on which he did not receive honorable battle wounds.
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Explanation
For a true soldier, days without விழுப்புண் (honorable wounds from battle) are வழுக்கு (errors/wasted). This reflects the warrior ethos of seeking glory through combat.
விளக்கம்
வீரனுக்கு விழுப்புண் படாத நாள் வீணான நாளே. போர் வெற்றிக்காக உடல் வருந்தாத நாள் பிழையானது. படைச்செருக்கு அதிகாரத்தில், வீரத்தின் பெருமையை இது உணர்த்துகிறது. கடமை உணர்ந்து போரிடுவதே சிறப்பு.
Word meanings
- விழுப்புண்viḻuppuṇhonorable wound
- படாதpaṭātanot receiving
- நாள்nāḷday
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- வழுக்கினுள்vaḻukkiṉuḷamong errors
- வைக்கும்vaikkumwill place
- தன்taṉhis own
- நாளைnāḷaidays
- எடுத்துeṭuttucounting
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a vast forest lived two woodcutters, Arun and Bala. Arun was strong, felling trees with powerful strokes, but he was cautious, always avoiding the forest's dangers. Bala, however, sought the wildest parts, eager to prove his skill. One day, a fierce storm raged. Trees crashed, and Arun, staying close to the village, gathered only small branches. Bala, undeterred, ventured deep. He wrestled a falling oak, suffering a deep gash on his arm. Returning, weary but proud, Bala displayed his firewood and his wound. Arun showed his meager pile, untouched by risk. The villagers praised Bala's bravery, his scar a mark of honor, his wood plentiful. Arun, though safe, felt a hollowness. He realized that safety without striving leaves a life unfulfilled, and that true value is found in facing challenges, even if it means bearing the marks of the struggle.