Kural #828
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Tamil text
தொழுதகை யுள்ளும் படையொடுங்கும்
ஒன்னார் அழுதகண் ணீரும் அனைத்து
Toḻutakai yuḷḷum paṭaiyoṭuṅkum
Oṉṉār aḻutakaṇ ṇīrum aṉaittu
English translation
In the folded hands of salutation, a weapon may hide; so too are the tears wept by enemies.
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Explanation
An enemy's folded hands in greeting (தொழுதகை) may conceal a weapon (படை). Similarly, an enemy's tears are equally deceptive. Both gestures - the respectful salute and sorrowful tears - can mask hostile intentions. Trust nothing from those who wish you harm.
விளக்கம்
பகைவர் வணங்குவது போல கைகூப்பினாலும், உள்ளே ஆயுதம் மறைந்திருக்கலாம். அதுபோல, அவர்கள் அழும் கண்ணீரும் பொய்யாக இருக்கலாம். கூடா நட்பு அதிகாரத்தில், பகைவரின் வெளித்தோற்றத்தை நம்பாதே என்பதே நீதி.
Word meanings
- தொழுதtoḻutasaluting/worshipping
- கைkaihand
- உள்ளும்uḷḷumwithin
- படைpaṭaiweapon
- ஒடுங்கும்oṭuṅkumhides
- ஒன்னார்oṉṉārenemies
- அழுதaḻutawept
- கண்ணீர்kaṇṇīrtears
- அனைத்துaṉaittuis like that
Story behind this kural
The old farmer, Elan, had a bountiful harvest. His neighbor, the cunning merchant, Vellan, admired the ripe crops. Vellan approached Elan, his face etched with a sorrow he rarely showed. "Oh, friend," he lamented, "I've lost everything. My fields are barren. My family is hungry." He clasped Elan's hands, tears welling in his eyes. "Could you spare some grain? Just enough to survive." Moved by the display, Elan, a generous soul, filled Vellan's cart with his finest harvest. Days later, Elan's own crops began to fail. He went to Vellan, seeking help. Vellan greeted him with a polite bow, but his eyes were cold. "My fields are full," Vellan declared, "But I have no grain for you. You should have been more careful." Elan was left with nothing. The merchant's tears had been a deceitful rain, washing away his trust and leaving him with emptiness.