Kural #922
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Tamil text
உண்ணற்க கள்ளை உணில்உண்க
சான்றோரால் எண்ணப் படவேண்டா தார்
Uṇṇaṟka kaḷḷai uṇiluṇka
Cāṉṟōrāl eṇṇap paṭavēṇṭā tār
English translation
Do not drink alcohol; if you must drink, let it be those who do not wish to be regarded by the wise.
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Explanation
A powerful conditional statement: avoid alcohol entirely. But if someone insists on drinking, they should know they forfeit the respect of the wise (சான்றோர்). It is a deliberate choice to be disregarded.
விளக்கம்
கள் குடிப்பது கூடாது. குடிக்க ஆசைப்பட்டால், நல்லவர்கள் மதிக்க வேண்டாம் என்று நினைப்பவர்கள் குடிக்கலாம். சான்றோர்கள் மதிக்காத வாழ்க்கை வேண்டாம் என்பதே இக்குறளின் நீதி. இது கள்ளுண்ணாமை அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளது.
Word meanings
- உண்ணற்கuṇṇaṟkado not drink
- கள்ளைkaḷḷailiquor
- உணில்uṇilif drinking
- உண்கuṇkalet them drink
- சான்றோர்cāṉṟōrthe wise/virtuous
- ஆல்ālby
- எண்ணப்படeṇṇappaṭato be regarded
- வேண்டாதார்vēṇṭātārthose who do not wish
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Both were known for their hard work, but their paths diverged in the evenings. Arun would often join the other villagers, sharing stories and laughter over cups of sweet milk. Bala, however, preferred the taverns, where he would consume fermented drinks, his laughter growing boisterous and his words often slurred. One day, the village elder announced a contest: the farmer who cultivated the most bountiful harvest would receive a prize of gold. Arun toiled diligently, planning his crops with care and wisdom. Bala, despite his initial enthusiasm, found his work faltering. His hangovers made him sluggish, and his judgment became clouded. When the harvest was gathered, Arun's fields overflowed with grain, while Bala’s were sparse. The villagers celebrated Arun's success, praising his dedication and planning. Bala, standing at the edge of the crowd, received no such accolades. He was alone, his face etched with regret, realizing the choices he made had isolated him.