Kural #862
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
அன்பிலன் ஆன்ற துணையிலன் தான்துவ்வான்
என்பரியும் ஏதிலான் துப்பு
Aṉpilaṉ āṉṟa tuṇaiyilaṉ tāṉtuvvāṉ
Eṉpariyum ētilāṉ tuppu
English translation
An enemy without love, great allies, or personal strength - how can such an enemy harm you?
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Explanation
An ideal enemy lacks three things: அன்பு (love/loyalty from others), ஆன்ற துணை (great allies), and தான் துவ்வான் (personal capacity). Such an enemy (ஏதிலான்) has no real power (துப்பு) to cause harm.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 862 பகைமாட்சி அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளது. அன்பு, நல்ல நண்பர்கள், சொந்த வலிமை இல்லாத எதிரியால் தீங்கு செய்ய முடியாது. இக்குறள், பலவீனமான எதிரியைப் பற்றிக் கவலைப்படத் தேவையில்லை என்கிறது.
Word meanings
- அன்புaṉpulove
- இலன்ilaṉwithout
- ஆன்றāṉṟagreat
- துணைtuṇaiallies
- தான்tāṉhimself
- துவ்வான்tuvvāṉcannot consume/has no capacity
- என்eṉwhat
- பரியும்pariyumcan harm
- ஏதிலான்ētilāṉstranger/enemy
- துப்புtuppupower/strength
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a grumpy old man named Silas. Silas envied the success of his neighbor, Thomas, a kind farmer known for his bountiful harvests. Silas, consumed by bitterness, plotted to ruin Thomas. He tried to turn the villagers against Thomas, spreading rumors of his supposed greed. But the villagers, who knew Thomas’s generous heart, dismissed Silas’s words. Silas then attempted to damage Thomas's fields, but found himself alone, unable to manage the work. Finally, Silas challenged Thomas to a wrestling match, but he was frail and weak. Thomas, witnessing Silas’s futile efforts, simply smiled. The next day, he brought Silas a basket of fresh bread and offered him a helping hand with his own meager crops. Silas, ashamed and defeated, finally understood the true meaning of strength.