Kural #867
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Tamil text
கொடுத்தும் கொளல்வேண்டும் மன்ற
அடுத்திருந்து மாணாத செய்வான் பகை
Koṭuttum koḷalvēṇṭum maṉṟa
Aṭuttirunti māṇāta ceyvāṉ pakai
English translation
The enmity of one who does ignoble things while remaining close should certainly be obtained, even at a price.
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Explanation
An enemy who remains nearby (அடுத்திருந்து) while doing ignoble deeds (மாணாத செய்வான்) is valuable to have. Such enemies should be cultivated (கொளல் வேண்டும்) even if it costs something (கொடுத்தும்). Their proximity and foolishness make them controllable.
விளக்கம்
பொருள்: அருகில் இருந்து கெடுதல் செய்யும் பகைவனை விலைகொடுத்தும் பெறுக. ஏனென்றால், அவன் அறியாமையால் கட்டுப்படுத்த எளிதானவன். பகைமாட்சி அதிகாரத்தில், பலவீனமான பகைவன் ஆபத்தானவன் அல்ல என்று கூறுகிறது.
Word meanings
- கொடுத்தும்koṭuttumeven giving
- கொளல்koḷalobtaining
- வேண்டும்vēṇṭumshould
- மன்றmaṉṟacertainly
- அடுத்துaṭuttunear
- இருந்துiruntubeing
- மாணாதmāṇātaignoble
- செய்வான்ceyvāṉone who does
- பகைpakaienmity
Story behind this kural
The old farmer, Elan, watched the arrogant merchant, Kesavan, cheat villagers daily. Kesavan, whose shop stood beside Elan's field, sold watered-down grain and underweight measures. Many whispered complaints, but no one dared confront him. One day, Elan began buying Kesavan's goods, always loudly praising their quality. He’d pay a little extra, requesting the finest grain. Kesavan, flattered, grew bolder, believing he had outsmarted Elan. He lowered his guard, boasting of his tricks to anyone who would listen, even showing Elan his hidden scales. Soon, Elan was the only one buying from Kesavan. Then, Elan announced he was leaving the village. He publicly gifted Kesavan his prime farmland, but with a condition: Kesavan must continue selling at inflated prices, to the departing Elan's chosen buyer. The buyer, of course, was Elan's shrewd nephew. Kesavan, in his greed, had dug his own grave.