Kural #873
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Tamil text
ஏமுற் றவரினும் ஏழை தமியனாய்ப்
பல்லார் பகைகொள் பவன்
Ēmuṟ ṟavariṉum ēḻai tamiyaṉāyp
Pallār pakaikoḷ pavaṉ
English translation
More foolish than one already ruined is he who, standing alone, makes enemies of many.
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Explanation
This kural condemns the foolishness of a solitary person (தமியன்) who creates multiple enemies (பல்லார் பகை). Such a person is considered even more pathetic than one who is already destroyed.
விளக்கம்
பொருள்: தனியாக இருந்து பலருடன் பகை கொள்பவன், அழிந்தவனை விட முட்டாள். பகைத்திறம் தெரிதல் அதிகாரத்தில், பலவீனமான எதிரியை தெரிந்து கொள்ளாமல் பகைப்பது தவறு என்கிறது. இது அறிவில்லாத செயல்.
Word meanings
- ஏமுற்றவர்ēmuṟṟavarthose who are ruined
- இனும்iṉummore than
- ஏழைēḻaipoor one/fool
- தமியன்tamiyaṉalone/solitary person
- ஆய்āybeing
- பல்லார்pallārmany people
- பகைகொள்pakaikoḷmaking enmity
- பவன்pavaṉone who
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a woodcutter named Tharan. Strong and proud, he believed himself superior to all. He boasted of his skill, mocking the farmer's crops and the weaver's cloth. He even belittled the village elder's wisdom. One harsh winter, the forest's bounty dwindled. Tharan, fueled by his pride, demanded the best firewood, angering the other villagers. They refused to share their meager stores. The farmer wouldn't lend him grain, and the weaver denied him warm clothes. Alone, Tharan shivered, his house cold, his stomach empty. He had the strength to fell the tallest trees, yet he was powerless against the combined indifference of those he had scorned. He realized, as the wind howled around his lonely hut, that his strength had become his greatest weakness.