Kural #926
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Tamil text
துஞ்சினார் செத்தாரின் வேறல்லர்
எஞ்ஞான்றும் நஞ்சுண்பார் கள்ளுண் பவர்
Tuñciṉār cettāriṉ vēṟallar
Eññāṉṟum nañcuṇpār kaḷḷuṇ pavar
English translation
Those who sleep are no different from the dead; those who drink alcohol are forever drinking poison.
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Explanation
A striking parallel: as sleepers temporarily resemble the dead, drinkers are constantly consuming poison (நஞ்சு). Alcohol is portrayed as slow-acting venom that one willingly drinks.
விளக்கம்
தூங்குபவர் இறந்தவரைப் போலவே இருப்பர். கள் உண்பவர் எப்போதும் நஞ்சு உண்பவரே. கள்ளுண்ணாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கள் உடலுக்குத் தீங்கு தரும் நஞ்சு என்பதை வள்ளுவர் வலியுறுத்துகிறார். கள் அருந்துவது மெல்ல மெல்ல உயிரைப் போக்கும்.
Word meanings
- துஞ்சினார்tuñciṉārthose who sleep
- செத்தார்cettārthe dead
- இன்iṉfrom
- வேறுvēṟudifferent
- அல்லர்allarare not
- எஞ்ஞான்றும்eññāṉṟumalways
- நஞ்சுnañcupoison
- உண்பார்uṇpārthose who consume
- கள்kaḷliquor
- உண்பவர்uṇpavarthose who drink
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun, a man of simple pleasures, toiled diligently and enjoyed the fruits of his labor. Bala, however, found solace in a potent brew. Each evening, he would drink deeply, his laughter growing loud, his movements clumsy. One day, a great storm swept through the valley. Arun, clear-headed and strong, quickly secured his crops and animals, saving his harvest. Bala, lost in a drunken stupor, slept through the tempest. When he awoke, his fields were flooded, his barn destroyed. Arun, seeing his neighbor's plight, helped Bala rebuild. As they worked side-by-side, Arun noticed Bala’s frequent fatigue. He’d stumble and lose his focus. Arun wondered why Bala had become so weak. One day, Bala collapsed, exhausted and unable to rise. Arun knew then that something had poisoned Bala's spirit.