Kural #859
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Tamil text
இகல்காணான் ஆக்கம் வருங்கால்
அதனை மிகல்காணும் கேடு தரற்கு
Ikalkāṇāṉ ākkam varuṅkāl
Ataṉai mikalkāṇum kēṭu taraṟku
English translation
When prosperity comes, one does not see enmity; when seeking to exceed it, one sees the ruin it brings.
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Explanation
During prosperity (ஆக்கம் வருங்கால்), one doesn't perceive enmity's danger (இகல் காணான்). Only when trying to exceed (மிகல்காணும்) others does one experience the ruin (கேடு) enmity brings. Success blinds; ambition reveals.
விளக்கம்
செல்வம் வரும்போது பகைவரின் வலிமை தெரியாது. அதைவிடப் பெரிய ஆசை வரும்போது, பகையால் வரும் அழிவு தெரியும். இகல் அதிகாரத்தில், பேராசை அழிவைத் தரும் என்று வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார்.
Word meanings
- இகல்ikalenmity
- காணான்kāṇāṉdoes not see
- ஆக்கம்ākkamprosperity
- வருங்கால்varuṅkālwhen comes
- அதனைataṉaithat
- மிகல்mikalexceeding
- காணும்kāṇumwill see
- கேடுkēṭuruin
- தரற்குtaraṟkuto give
Story behind this kural
In a prosperous village, lived two potters, Arun and Bala. Arun, content with his steady trade, crafted beautiful pots, selling them for a fair price. He built a comfortable life, sharing his success with his neighbors. Bala, however, envied Arun’s prosperity. He saw the admiration Arun received and the wealth he accumulated. Bala decided to surpass Arun. He began making his pots larger, more ornate, and charging exorbitant prices. He boasted of his superior craftsmanship, belittling Arun’s simple wares. At first, some villagers, dazzled by the extravagance, bought Bala's pots. But soon, the quality suffered as Bala rushed his work, and the prices became a burden. The villagers stopped buying Bala's pots. Arun, meanwhile, continued his honest work, his reputation for quality and fairness growing. Soon, Bala's workshop stood empty, while Arun's thrived. Bala, once filled with ambition, was left with nothing but resentment and regret.