Kural #798
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Tamil text
உள்ளற்க உள்ளம் சிறுகுவ
கொள்ளற்க அல்லற்கண் ஆற்றறுப்பார் நட்பு
Uḷḷaṟka uḷḷam ciṟukuva
Koḷḷaṟka allaṟkaṇ āṟṟaṟuppār naṭpu
English translation
Think not of heart-shrinking things; accept not the friendship of those who desert in distress.
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Explanation
Avoid thoughts that diminish your spirit (உள்ளம் சிறுகுவ). Do not accept (கொள்ளற்க) friendship with those who abandon you (ஆற்று அறுப்பார்) in times of trouble (அல்லற்கண்).
விளக்கம்
மனம் தளரச் செய்யும் எண்ணங்களை நினைக்காதே. துன்பம் வரும்போது கைவிடும் நண்பரின் நட்பை ஏற்காதே. நட்பாராய்தல் அதிகாரத்தின்படி, உண்மையான நண்பன் துன்பத்தில் உதவுவான். இதுவே நீதியின் வழி.
Word meanings
- உள்ளற்கuḷḷaṟkathink not
- உள்ளம்uḷḷamheart/mind
- சிறுகுவciṟukuvathings that diminish
- கொள்ளற்கkoḷḷaṟkaaccept not
- அல்லற்கண்allaṟkaṇin times of trouble
- ஆற்றுāṟṟupath/way
- அறுப்பார்aṟuppārthose who cut off
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two friends, Arun and Bala. Arun, a farmer, possessed a bountiful harvest, while Bala, a merchant, thrived in trade. Their friendship flourished in good times. They shared laughter, feasts, and helped each other with ease. One harsh winter, a relentless storm destroyed Arun's crops. Despair clouded his face. He sought Bala, hoping for a loan to survive. Bala, however, hesitated, his eyes darting away. "My own fortunes are uncertain," he murmured, before retreating into his home. Arun, disheartened, turned to another villager, a humble potter named Ravi. Ravi, though possessing little, offered Arun what he could – food, shelter, and unwavering support. Arun, witnessing Ravi's selfless generosity, slowly rebuilt his life. Years later, when Bala faced his own misfortune, Arun remembered the winter's chill. He knew the true measure of friendship was found not in fleeting prosperity, but in enduring support during hardship.