Kural #883
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Tamil text
உட்பகை அஞ்சித்தற் காக்க
உலைவிடத்து மட்பகையின் மாணத் தெறும்
Uṭpakai añcittaṟ kākka
Ulaiviṭattu maṭpakaiyiṉ māṇat teṟum
English translation
Guard yourself against internal enemies with fear, for at the moment of weakness they will destroy more completely than external enemies.
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Explanation
Internal enemies strike when you are vulnerable (உலைவிடத்து - time of distress). Their destruction is more complete than even powerful external enemies because they know your weaknesses.
விளக்கம்
உட்பகை மிகவும் ஆபத்தானது. துன்பம் வரும்போது, அது வெளிப்பகையை விட அதிகமாக அழிக்கும். நம் பலவீனத்தை அறிந்தே உட்பகை செயல்படும். ஆகையால், உட்பகையிடம் இருந்து நம்மை காத்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். இது உட்பகை அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து.
Word meanings
- உட்பகைuṭpakaiinternal enemy
- அஞ்சிañcifearing
- தற்காக்கtaṟkākkaguard oneself
- உலைவிடத்துulaiviṭattuat time of distress
- மட்பகைmaṭpakaiexternal/outside enemy
- இன்iṉthan
- மாணmāṇagreatly
- தெறும்teṟumwill destroy
Story behind this kural
In a tranquil village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, the elder, possessed a prosperous farm, while Bala, consumed by envy, secretly resented his brother's success. Arun, unaware of Bala's ill will, often shared his bounty, trusting in their bond. One harsh winter, a severe drought struck the village. Arun's crops withered, leaving him vulnerable. Bala, seeing his brother's hardship, offered assistance, but his heart held a different plan. He subtly sowed seeds of doubt among the villagers, whispering tales of Arun's supposed hoarding of resources. The villagers, already desperate, turned against Arun. They demanded his remaining stores, fueled by Bala's hidden resentment. Arun, betrayed and weakened, watched as his home and livelihood crumbled. Bala, feigning sorrow, offered a small portion of the village's harvest, claiming it was all he could spare, further solidifying his position. The river, once a symbol of life, now reflected the devastation of the internal conflict.