Kural #875
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Tamil text
பகைநட்பாக் கொண்டொழுகும் பண்புடை யாளன்
தகைமைக்கண் தங்கிற்று உலகு
Pakainaṭpāk koṇṭoḻukum paṇpuṭai yāḷaṉ
Takaimaikkaṇ taṅkiṟṟu ulaku
English translation
The world rests in the excellence of one who, possessing noble character, treats even enemies as friends.
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Explanation
A truly great person converts enemies into friends through noble conduct (பண்பு). Such a person's தகைமை (excellence/dignity) becomes the foundation upon which the world depends.
விளக்கம்
பகைவரையும் நண்பராக்கும் நல்ல பண்பாளரின் பெருமையிலே உலகம் நிலைத்து இருக்கிறது. பகைத்திறம் தெரிதல் அதிகாரத்தில், எதிரியின் பலவீனத்தை அறிந்து வெல்லும் வழியை இது காட்டுகிறது. அன்பும் பண்பும் உலகை ஆளும் திறவுகோல். இதுவே குறளின் நீதி.
Word meanings
- பகைpakaienemy
- நட்புnaṭpufriendship
- ஆகākaas/into
- கொண்டுkoṇṭutaking/treating
- ஒழுகும்oḻukumconducting oneself
- பண்புடையாளன்paṇpuṭaiyāḷaṉone with noble character
- தகைமைtakaimaiexcellence/dignity
- கண்kaṇin/upon
- தங்கிற்றுtaṅkiṟṟurests/depends
- உலகுulakuworld
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun owned a vast, fertile field, while Bala's land was rocky and yielded little. Jealousy festered in Bala, and he often sabotaged Arun's crops, secretly diverting water and damaging fences. Arun, however, responded with kindness. When Bala's tools broke, Arun offered his own. When Bala’s family fell ill, Arun shared his harvest. He never spoke of Bala's misdeeds, instead offering a helping hand whenever he could. Slowly, Bala’s anger began to melt. He saw the genuine goodness in Arun's actions, the absence of judgment in his eyes. One day, ashamed, Bala confessed his actions, expecting punishment. Arun simply smiled and invited him to share in the next harvest. Bala, humbled and grateful, became Arun's most loyal friend, and together, they cultivated not just the land, but a bond that strengthened the entire village. The fields flourished, and the villagers marveled at their unity.