Kural #78
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Tamil text
அன்பகத் தில்லா உயிர்வாழ்க்கை
வன்பாற்கண் வற்றல் மரந்தளிர்த் தற்று
Aṉpakat tillā uyirvāḻkkai
Vaṉpāṟkaṇ vaṟṟal marantaḷirt taṟṟu
English translation
A life without love within is like a dry tree putting forth leaves in barren soil.
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Explanation
Thiruvalluvar paints a striking image: a withered tree in harsh, dry land might occasionally sprout leaves, but this is unnatural and unsustainable. Similarly, a person without inner love may appear to live, but such existence lacks true vitality. Love is the water that makes the tree of life truly flourish.
விளக்கம்
அன்பில்லாத வாழ்க்கை பாலைவனத்தில் காய்ந்த மரம் தளிர்ப்பது போல. அன்புடைமை அதிகாரத்தில், அன்புதான் வாழ்வின் அடிப்படை என்கிறார் வள்ளுவர். அன்பு இல்லாவிட்டால், வாழ்க்கை பயனற்றது.
Word meanings
- அன்புaṉpulove
- அகத்துakattuwithin/inside
- இல்லாillāwithout/lacking
- உயிர்uyirlife/soul
- வாழ்க்கைvāḻkkailiving/existence
- வன்பால்vaṉpālharsh/barren place
- கண்kaṇin/at
- வற்றல்vaṟṟaldried/withered
- மரம்maramtree
- தளிர்த்தற்றுtaḷirttaṟṟuputting forth leaves (unnaturally)
Story behind this kural
In a parched village, two farmers tilled the unforgiving land. Kumar, a gruff man, hoarded his meager harvest, counting every grain. He built high walls around his home, his heart as barren as the earth. Across the way lived Ravi. Though his fields were equally dry, he shared what little he had. He helped his neighbors, offered water to weary travelers, and always greeted others with a warm smile. One year, a fierce drought ravaged the village. Kumar’s granary remained full, but his spirit withered. He felt a deep loneliness despite his wealth. Ravi, however, faced the hardship with resilience. His home, though simple, was filled with laughter. Neighbors rallied around him, sharing what little they had. Even in the face of scarcity, a small patch of green began to appear in his field. When the rains finally came, Ravi's fields flourished, nourished by the shared kindness and the deep bonds of community. Kumar's land, though well-watered, produced only a few meager stalks.