Kural #895
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
யாண்டுச்செல்லுங் கொல்வேந்து கொலைவாள்
இது எனும் தன்னைத்தான் கொல்வான் பகை
Yāṇṭuccelluṅ kolvēntu kolaivāḷ
Itu eṉum taṉṉaittāṉ kolvāṉ pakai
English translation
Making an enemy of a powerful king is like saying "Where can the killing sword go?" and destroying oneself.
Listen
Explanation
Challenging a mighty king while questioning his deadly sword's reach is foolish bravado. Such enmity is essentially self-destruction - you become your own executioner.
விளக்கம்
பெரியாரைப் பிழையாமை அதிகாரத்தில், வலிமையான அரசனை எதிர்ப்பது, "அரசின் வாள் எங்கே போகும்?" என்று தன்னைத்தானே அழித்துக்கொள்வது போலாகும். இது முட்டாள்தனமான செயல். அது பகை ஆகி, நமக்கு நாமே தீங்கு செய்து கொள்வதாகும். அடக்கத்துடன் இருக்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- யாண்டுyāṇṭuwhere
- செல்லும்cellumwill go
- கொல்kolindeed (interrogative)
- வேந்துvēntuking
- கொலைவாள்kolaivāḷkilling sword
- இதுituthis
- எனும்eṉumsaying
- தன்னைtaṉṉaioneself
- தான்tāṉoneself
- கொல்வான்kolvāṉone who kills
- பகைpakaienmity
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a vast kingdom, lived a woodcutter named Arul. He was known for his strength and sharp axe. One day, the King's men, seeking timber for a new palace, demanded Arul's finest oak. Arul, feeling the price was too low, refused, boasting, "Where will the King's men find me if I hide in the deep forest?" The King, hearing of Arul's defiance, was enraged. He sent his soldiers, but Arul, using his knowledge of the forest, evaded them for days. He felt triumphant. He taunted the King, believing himself untouchable. However, the King, patient and shrewd, simply ordered the village's water source poisoned. Soon, the villagers, including Arul's family, were sick and desperate. Arul, forced to come out of hiding to seek help, was captured. He realized then, his defiance, like a boast against a storm, had only brought ruin to those he loved.