Kural #894
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Tamil text
கூற்றத்தைக் கையால் விளித்தற்றால்
ஆற்றுவார்க்கு ஆற்றாதார் இன்னா செயல்
Kūṟṟattaik kaiyāl viḷittaṟṟāl
Āṟṟuvārkku āṟṟātār iṉṉā ceyal
English translation
For the powerless to harm the powerful is like beckoning death with one's own hand.
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Explanation
When the weak (ஆற்றாதார்) attempt to harm the powerful (ஆற்றுவார்), it is suicide - like waving to invite Yama (கூற்றம்), the god of death, to come take you.
விளக்கம்
பெரியாரைப் பிழையாமை அதிகாரத்தில், பலம் இல்லாதவர் பலம் உள்ளவரை பகைப்பது, தன் கையாலேயே கூற்றை அழைப்பது போலாகும். இது ஆபத்தான செயல். பெரியோரை மதிக்காமல் துன்பம் செய்தால், அது நமக்குத் தீமையே தரும். அடக்கம் வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- கூற்றம்kūṟṟamdeath/Yama
- கையால்kaiyālwith hand
- விளித்தற்றுviḷittaṟṟulike beckoning
- ஆல்ālindeed
- ஆற்றுவார்க்குāṟṟuvārkkuto the powerful
- ஆற்றாதார்āṟṟātārthe powerless
- இன்னாiṉṉāharm
- செயல்ceyalaction/doing
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a vast forest, lived a woodcutter named Karthi. He was known for his sharp tongue and quicker temper. One day, the King’s prized ox wandered into the forest and ate from Karthi's meager crops. Enraged, Karthi stormed into the royal stables, cursing the King and the ox. The stablehands, though startled, tried to reason with him, but Karthi would not listen. He threatened to harm the ox if it ever came near his land again. Word of Karthi’s outburst reached the King. The King, known for his wisdom, simply sent a messenger with a small bag of gold coins to Karthi, and a message of peace. Karthi, surprised and ashamed, regretted his rash words. He realized the folly of his anger and the King's true strength. He understood the courage it took to offer peace. From that day on, Karthi became known for his quiet humility, and his small farm flourished.