Kural #848
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Tamil text
ஏவவும் செய்கலான் தான்தேறான்
அவ்வுயிர் போஒம் அளவும்ஓர் நோய்
Ēvavum ceykalāṉ tāṉtēṟāṉ
Avvuyir pōom aḷavumōr nōy
English translation
One who neither follows instruction nor learns on his own is a disease until life departs.
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Explanation
Someone who neither obeys guidance (ஏவ செய்கலான்) nor gains personal understanding (தான் தேறான்) is like a disease (நோய்) persisting until death. Such people are incurable burdens throughout their lives.
விளக்கம்
புல்லறிவாண்மை அதிகாரத்தில், பிறர் சொன்னாலும் கேட்காமல், தானும் அறிவில்லாமல் இருப்பவன் உயிரோடு இருக்கும் வரை ஒரு நோய் போன்றவன். அவன் யாருக்கும் பயன்படாமல், சுமையாகவே இருப்பான். நல்ல அறிவு இல்லாமல் இருப்பது எவ்வளவு கெடுதல் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது.
Word meanings
- ஏவēvawhen instructed
- செய்கலான்ceykalāṉnot doing
- தான்tāṉoneself
- தேறான்tēṟāṉnot understanding
- அவ்வுயிர்avvuyirthat life
- போஒம்pōomgoes
- அளவும்aḷavumuntil
- ஓர்ōra
- நோய்nōydisease
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived a young potter named Karthi. His father, a master craftsman, patiently taught him the secrets of the wheel and the kiln. "Shape the clay with care," the father would say, "and learn from every crack and imperfection." But Karthi, impatient and distracted, dismissed his father's words. He rushed the process, creating misshapen pots and carelessly firing them, leading to shattered results. Villagers offered advice, suggesting changes to his methods, but Karthi ignored them. "I know best," he'd grumble, repeating his mistakes. His workshop remained a chaotic mess, filled with broken pottery. He blamed the clay, the fire, anything but himself. Years passed. The father aged, and Karthi remained a struggling potter. His kiln produced little of value, and his spirit was as broken as his wares. The villagers shook their heads, watching him remain perpetually in the same state.