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Kural #928

Wealth· பொருள்Not Drinking· கள்ளுண்ணாமை

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Tamil text

களித்தறியேன் என்பது கைவிடுக

நெஞ்சத்து ஒளித்ததூஉம் ஆங்கே மிகும்

Kaḷittaṟiyēṉ eṉpatu kaiviṭuka

Neñcattu oḷittatūum āṅkē mikum

English translation

Give up saying "I have never been drunk" - for in intoxication, even what is hidden in the heart is revealed.

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Explanation

A warning: alcohol reveals secrets. Even what is deeply hidden in one's heart (நெஞ்சத்து ஒளித்தது) comes out when drunk. The claim of self-control (களித்தறியேன்) is meaningless.

விளக்கம்

குடி குடியைக் கெடுக்கும். "நான் குடித்ததே இல்லை" என்போர் அதைச் சொல்ல வேண்டாம். குடித்தால் மனதில் ஒளிந்த ரகசியங்கள் வெளியே வரும். கள்ளுண்ணாமை அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம்.

Word meanings

  • களித்துkaḷittubeing intoxicated
  • அறியேன்aṟiyēṉI do not know/have not experienced
  • என்பதுeṉpatusaying
  • கைவிடுகkaiviṭukagive up
  • நெஞ்சத்துneñcattuin the heart
  • ஒளித்ததுoḷittatuwhat is hidden
  • ஆங்கேāṅkēright there
  • மிகும்mikumwill overflow/be revealed

Story behind this kural

In a quiet village nestled beside a shimmering lake, lived two friends, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his quiet dignity, always composed and reserved. Bala, however, was a jovial soul, quick with a laugh and fond of the local brew. One evening, at the village festival, Bala urged Arun to join him in a drink. Arun, initially hesitant, finally yielded. As the evening wore on, the alcohol loosened Arun's tongue. He began to speak of a secret, a hidden resentment he harbored towards the village elder, a man he usually treated with utmost respect. The next day, sober and mortified, Arun could barely meet the elder's eye. The elder, however, smiled knowingly, and said, "A man's true feelings, like the hidden depths of the lake, are often revealed when the surface is disturbed." Arun understood that evening's events had unveiled his inner self.