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Kural #919

Wealth· பொருள்Courtesans· வரைவின் மகளிர்

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Tamil text

வரைவிலா மாணிழையார் மென்தோள்

புரையிலாப் பூரியர்கள் ஆழும் அளறு

Varaivilā māṇiḻaiyār meṉtōḷ

Puraiyilāp pūriyarkaḷ āḻum aḷaṟu

English translation

The soft shoulders of women without restraint are the mire in which the base without virtue sink.

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Explanation

Courtesans without moral limits (வரைவு இலா) have soft shoulders (மென்தோள்) that serve as quicksand (அளறு) drowning worthless men (புரை இலா பூரியர்). The unvirtuous destroy the unvirtuous.

விளக்கம்

வரைவில்லாத விலைமாதரின் மெல்லிய தோள்கள், ஒழுக்கமில்லாத கீழான மனிதர்கள் விழும் சேறு போன்றது. வரைவின் மகளிர் அதிகாரத்தில், ஒழுக்கக்கேடான உறவுகளால் ஏற்படும் அழிவுகளை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். நற்பண்பு இல்லாதவர்கள், தவறான வழியில் அழிவார்கள்.

Word meanings

  • வரைவுvaraivulimit/restraint
  • இலாilāwithout
  • மாண்māṇexcellent
  • இழையார்iḻaiyārwomen with ornaments
  • மென்meṉsoft
  • தோள்tōḷshoulders
  • புரைpuraivirtue
  • இலாilāwithout
  • பூரியர்கள்pūriyarkaḷbase people
  • ஆழும்āḻumsinking
  • அளறுaḷaṟumire/hell

Story behind this kural

In a bustling village, lived a wealthy merchant named Silas. He had a reputation for shrewd deals, but also for a wandering eye. Word spread of a beautiful dancer, Lyra, who captivated audiences with her charm. Silas, captivated himself, spent lavishly on her, neglecting his business and his wife. He gifted Lyra jewels and fine silks, boasting of his generosity. Soon, other men, drawn by her allure, followed Silas's example. They, too, poured their fortunes into her lavish lifestyle, vying for her attention. As their wealth dwindled, so did Lyra's interest. Silas, now deep in debt, found his merchant ships seized. The other men, once proud, now faced ruin. Lyra, surrounded by new admirers with fresh fortunes, offered only a fleeting glance as they stumbled away, disgraced and penniless. Their grand ambitions and fortunes were lost to the sands of fleeting pleasure.