Kural #872
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Tamil text
வில்லேர் உழவர் பகைகொளினும்
கொள்ளற்க சொல்லேர் உழவர் பகை
Villēr uḻavar pakaikoḷiṉum
Koḷḷaṟka collēr uḻavar pakai
English translation
Even if you make enemies of warriors who wield bows, never make enemies of those who wield words.
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Explanation
Warriors use bows (வில்) as their tool, but scholars use words (சொல்) as theirs. The enmity of wordsmiths - poets, scholars, those skilled in speech - is far more dangerous than that of physical warriors.
விளக்கம்
வில் வீரரை பகைத்தாலும், சொல் வல்லவரை பகைக்காதே. அவர்கள் சொற்களால் தீங்கு செய்வர். பகைத்திறம் தெரிதலில், எதிரியின் பலம் அறிந்து செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்பதே நீதி. சொல் ஆற்றல் மிக்க ஆபத்தானது.
Word meanings
- வில்vilbow
- ஏர்ērplow/tool
- உழவர்uḻavarfarmers/workers (metaphor for practitioners)
- பகைpakaienmity
- கொளினும்koḷiṉumeven if making
- கொள்ளற்கkoḷḷaṟkado not make
- சொல்colword/speech
Story behind this kural
In a sun-baked village, lived two men: Karthi, a renowned archer, and Arul, a silver-tongued storyteller. Karthi, though strong and skilled, often boasted of his prowess. Arul, gentle and wise, preferred to listen. One day, Karthi, angered by a perceived slight, challenged Arul. “I shall prove my strength, and you shall feel my arrow!” he roared. Arul, unfazed, simply smiled and said, “I accept your challenge.” Karthi, confident, prepared for a contest of archery. He practiced diligently, his arrows flying true. Arul, however, spent his time composing a ballad, a tale of Karthi's arrogance and pride. When the day arrived, Karthi shot his arrows with deadly accuracy, winning the archery contest easily. But Arul, when asked to speak, recited his ballad. The villagers, captivated, saw Karthi's true nature through the words. Soon, Karthi found himself isolated, his victories meaningless. His strength was forgotten; only Arul's words lingered.