Kural #837
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
ஏதிலார் ஆரத் தமர்பசிப்பர்
பேதை பெருஞ்செல்வம் உற்றக் கடை
Ētilār ārat tamarpacippar
Pētai peruñcelvam uṟṟak kaṭai
English translation
When a fool gains great wealth, strangers feast while his own kin starve.
Listen
Explanation
When a fool (பேதை) acquires great wealth (பெருஞ்செல்வம்), strangers (ஏதிலார்) eat their fill (ஆர) while his own family (தமர்) starves (பசிப்பர்). The fool mismanages wealth, benefiting outsiders while neglecting those closest.
விளக்கம்
பேதையொருவன் செல்வந்தனைந்தால், அயலார்க்கே உபகரிப்பான்; சுற்றத்தார் பசியால் வாடுவர். அறிவில்லாதவன் செல்வத்தை வீணாக்குவான் என்பது பேதைமை அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து. நெருங்கிய உறவினரை கவனிக்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- ஏதிலார்ētilārstrangers
- ஆரārato be satisfied/feast
- தமர்tamarone's own kin
- பசிப்பர்pacipparwill hunger
- பேதைpētaifool
- பெரும்perumgreat
- செல்வம்celvamwealth
- உற்றuṟṟaobtained
- கடைkaṭaiwhen/at the time
Story behind this kural
In a prosperous village nestled beside a river, lived a wealthy merchant named Alagan. He inherited a vast fortune and quickly became known for his extravagant feasts. Every evening, his courtyard overflowed with travelers and strangers, all enjoying the finest foods and wines. Meanwhile, Alagan’s own family, his wife and children, lived in a small, neglected house. Their meals were meager, often just a handful of rice. They rarely saw Alagan, who was always busy entertaining guests. They pleaded with him for basic needs, but he brushed them aside, promising riches "later." One harsh winter, the river froze, and trade slowed. Alagan's lavish spending depleted his wealth. The feasts stopped, and the strangers vanished. Then, only his family remained, still hungry, still waiting. Alagan, facing ruin, finally understood the true value of what he had neglected.