Kural #889
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Tamil text
எட்பக வன்ன சிறுமைத்தே ஆயினும்
உட்பகை உள்ளதாங் கேடு
Eṭpaka vaṉṉa ciṟumaittē āyiṉum
Uṭpakai uḷḷatāṅ kēṭu
English translation
Even if internal enmity is as small as a sesame seed, where it exists, destruction is certain.
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Explanation
Even tiny internal enmity, as small as a sesame seed (எள் பக), contains the seed of total destruction. Size does not matter; the presence of internal discord guarantees eventual ruin.
விளக்கம்
உட்பகை எள்ளளவு சிறிதாயினும், அது உள்ள இடத்தில் அழிவு நிச்சயம். உட்பகை, ஒற்றுமையைக் குலைத்து, இறுதியில் நாசத்தை உண்டாக்கும். சிறிய பிளவு கூட பெரிய ஆபத்தாக முடியும். ஒற்றுமையே வலிமை.
Word meanings
- எள்eḷsesame
- பகpakasplit/half
- அன்னaṉṉalike
- சிறுமைத்துciṟumaittusmallness
- ஏēeven (emphatic)
- ஆயினும்āyiṉumeven if
- உட்பகைuṭpakaiinternal enmity
- உள்ளதுuḷḷatuwhere exists
- ஆம்āmis
- கேடுkēṭudestruction
Story behind this kural
In a prosperous village nestled by a shimmering river, lived four potters. They crafted exquisite clay vessels, their skills renowned throughout the land. One, named Arun, harbored a secret resentment towards the others, envying their success. He saw their overflowing stalls and felt a tiny seed of bitterness sprout within his heart. This envy, though small, festered. Arun subtly sabotaged his rivals: whispering doubts to customers, hiding their tools, and spreading rumors of flawed craftsmanship. Initially, these acts seemed insignificant, like tiny cracks in the strong pottery. Yet, slowly, customers began to drift away from the other potters. Their once-bustling stalls fell silent. The whispers grew into accusations, the hidden tools led to broken deadlines, and the rumors eroded trust. Eventually, the once-thriving potters faced ruin, their businesses collapsing. Arun, meanwhile, though he gained fleeting success, found himself isolated, his victory hollow, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions.