Kural #930
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Tamil text
கள்ளுண்ணாப் போழ்தில் களித்தானைக்
காணுங்கால் உள்ளான்கொல் உண்டதன் சோர்வு
Kaḷḷuṇṇāp pōḻtil kaḷittāṉaik
Kāṇuṅkāl uḷḷāṉkol uṇṭataṉ cōrvu
English translation
When sober and seeing another drunk, does a drinker not recall his own disgraceful state?
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Explanation
A psychological question: when a drinker, while sober (கள்ளுண்ணாப் போழ்தில்), sees another drunk person, does he not remember (உள்ளான்கொல்) his own disgrace? Self-awareness should prevent drinking.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 930-இல், குடிகாரன் தெளிந்திருக்கும்போது மற்ற குடிகாரனைப் பார்த்தால், தான் குடித்தபோது இருந்த அவமானத்தை நினைப்பானா என்று வள்ளுவர் கேட்கிறார். கள்ளுண்ணாமை அதிகாரத்தில், குடி குடியைக் கெடுக்கும் என்பதை உணர்த்துகிறார். முன்பு தான் பட்ட துன்பத்தை நினைத்தால், மீண்டும் குடிக்க மாட்டான்.
Word meanings
- கள்kaḷliquor
- உண்ணாuṇṇānot drinking
- போழ்தில்pōḻtilat the time
- களித்தானைkaḷittāṉaia drunk person
- காணுங்கால்kāṇuṅkālwhen seeing
- உள்ளான்uḷḷāṉdoes he remember
- கொல்kolperhaps (interrogative)
- உண்டதன்uṇṭataṉof having drunk
- சோர்வுcōrvudisgrace/weakness
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a lush vineyard, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his steady hand and clear mind, while Bala enjoyed the sweet wine the vineyard produced. One harvest evening, Bala, having tasted too much, stumbled through the village square, his laughter echoing unnaturally. He tripped over a well, his face flushed, and began to sing off-key. Arun watched from his doorway, a basket of ripe grapes in his hand. He saw the villagers whispering and pointing at Bala's unsteady form. He remembered a time when he too had indulged, the world blurring around him, leading to regret the next morning. He recalled the shame he felt after an argument with his wife, fueled by the wine's fog. He shook his head, a wave of pity washing over him. The sweetness of the grapes in his hand suddenly seemed less appealing. Arun turned back inside, vowing to remain clear-headed and true to himself.