Kural #886
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Tamil text
ஒன்றாமை ஒன்றியார் கட்படின்
எஞ்ஞான்றும் பொன்றாமை ஒன்றல் அரிது
Oṉṟāmai oṉṟiyār kaṭpaṭiṉ
Eññāṉṟum poṉṟāmai oṉṟal aritu
English translation
If disunity falls among those who were united, avoiding destruction at any time will be difficult.
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Explanation
When those who were once united (ஒன்றியார்) become divided, permanent safety becomes impossible. Division among allies is a precursor to certain downfall.
விளக்கம்
உட்பகை அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் இக்குறள், ஒற்றுமை குலைந்தால் அழிவு நிச்சயம் என்கிறது. முன்பு சேர்ந்திருந்தவர்கள் பிளவுபட்டால், எப்போது வேண்டுமானாலும் ஆபத்து வரலாம். ஒற்றுமையே பலம், அதை இழப்பது அழிவுக்கு வழி.
Word meanings
- ஒன்றாமைoṉṟāmaidisunity
- ஒன்றியார்oṉṟiyārthose who were united
- கண்kaṇamong
- படின்paṭiṉif falls
- எஞ்ஞான்றும்eññāṉṟumat any time/ever
- பொன்றாமைpoṉṟāmainot perishing
- ஒன்றல்oṉṟalhappening
- அரிதுaritudifficult/rare
Story behind this kural
In a bustling village nestled beside a whispering river, lived four skilled potters. They shared a kiln, their talents complementing each other. One wove intricate designs, another shaped perfect forms, a third perfected the glaze, and the last carefully fired each piece. Their combined skill brought them great wealth, and the village flourished with their beautiful wares. One day, envy crept in. The designer coveted the form-maker's skill, the form-maker resented the glazer's reputation, and the glazer envied the firer's control over the final product. Whispers of discontent replaced shared laughter. Each potter began to work in secret, hoarding their best techniques, and making pots alone. Their work became inconsistent, the quality declined, and the villagers stopped buying their wares. Soon, the potters’ kiln stood cold, and their once-thriving homes fell into disrepair. The river continued to flow, but the village slowly lost its luster, a shadow of its former self.