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Kural #898

Wealth· பொருள்Not Offending the Great· பெரியாரைப் பிழையாமை

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Tamil text

குன்றன்னார் குன்ற மதிப்பின்

குடியொடு நின்றன்னார் மாய்வர் நிலத்து

Kuṉṟaṉṉār kuṉṟa matippiṉ

Kuṭiyoṭu niṉṟaṉṉār māyvar nilattu

English translation

If the mountain-like great ones think lowly of someone, that person and their family will perish from the earth.

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Explanation

When great ones who stand firm like mountains (குன்று அன்னார்) look down upon someone (குன்ற மதிப்பின்), that person's entire lineage will be destroyed from the land.

விளக்கம்

பெரியோரை மதிக்காதவர், அவர்கள் குடும்பத்தோடு அழிவர். மலை போன்ற பெரியோரை இகழ்ந்தால், அதுவே அழிவுக்குக் காரணம். பெரியாரைப் பிழையாமை அதிகாரத்தின்படி, பெரியோரை மதித்து வாழ்தல் நன்று. இதுவே நீடித்த வாழ்வுக்கு வழி.

Word meanings

  • குன்றுkuṉṟumountain
  • அன்னார்aṉṉārthose like
  • குன்றkuṉṟato diminish/look down
  • மதிப்பின்matippiṉif they regard
  • குடிkuṭifamily
  • ஒடுoṭuwith
  • நின்றன்னார்niṉṟaṉṉārthose who stood firmly
  • மாய்வர்māyvarwill perish
  • நிலத்துnilattuon earth

Story behind this kural

In a village nestled beside a towering mountain lived a humble potter named Kumar. His hands shaped clay into beautiful vessels, and his heart held kindness for all. One day, the King, a man of great stature and pride, visited the village. Kumar, eager to offer his best, presented the King with a delicately crafted vase. The King, however, scoffed, declaring the vase unworthy of his presence. He belittled Kumar's skills, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. The villagers, witnessing the King's scorn, lowered their heads in shame for their friend. From that day forward, misfortune plagued the potter. His kiln cracked, his clay crumbled, and his livelihood dwindled. Soon, his family suffered, their home falling into disrepair. The King, meanwhile, continued to prosper, his kingdom flourishing. But one day, the mountain that overlooked the village crumbled, burying the King's palace and all within. The village, including Kumar's small home, was spared.