Kural #881
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
நிழல்நீரும் இன்னாத இன்னா
தமர்நீரும் இன்னாவாம் இன்னா செயின்
Niḻalnīrum iṉṉāta iṉṉā
Tamarnīrum iṉṉāvām iṉṉā ceyiṉ
English translation
Just as shade and water become harmful when they are harmful, even kinsmen become harmful when they do harm.
Listen
Explanation
Even naturally beneficial things like shade and water can harm in certain conditions. Similarly, relatives (தமர்) who should protect can become dangerous when they act harmfully. Internal betrayal is the worst.
விளக்கம்
நிழலும் நீரும் கெடுதல் போல், உறவினரே தீங்கு செய்தால் துன்பம் தரும். உட்சத்துருக்கள் ஆபத்தானவர்கள் என்பதை உட்பகை அதிகாரம் கூறுகிறது. நல்லவர்களே தீமை செய்தால் அதைவிட கொடுமை இல்லை. உதவி செய்ய வேண்டியவர்களே பகை ஆனால் என்ன செய்வது?
Word meanings
- நிழல்niḻalshade
- நீர்nīrwater
- இன்னாதiṉṉātaharmful (conditional)
- இன்னாiṉṉāharm
- தமர்tamarkinsmen/relatives
- நீரும்nīrumnature also
- இன்னாவாம்iṉṉāvāmwill be harmful
- செயின்ceyiṉif they do
Story behind this kural
The village of Vallam thrived beside a great river, its fields lush under the sun. Old Man Karunai, known for his wisdom, possessed the largest mango orchard. His nephews, envious of his wealth, often visited, offering help. One scorching summer, the river dried to a trickle. Karunai shared his precious well water with the village, but his nephews hoarded their own, secretly planning to take the orchard. They whispered accusations of greed and selfishness against their uncle, hoping to turn the villagers against him. When Karunai fell ill, they offered to care for him, but instead, they poisoned his food, hoping to hasten his end. The villagers, once swayed by their words, saw the truth in their actions. They turned away, and the nephews were left alone, their betrayal plain for all to see. The shade of the mango trees offered them no comfort, and the water they hoarded was now bitter in their mouths.