Kural #931
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Tamil text
வேண்டற்க வென்றிடினும் சூதினை
வென்றதூஉம் தூண்டிற்பொன் மீன்விழுங்கி யற்று
Vēṇṭaṟka veṉṟiṭiṉum cūtiṉai
Veṉṟatūum tūṇṭiṟpoṉ mīṉviḻuṅki yaṟṟu
English translation
Desire not gambling even if you win; winning is like a fish swallowing the baited hook.
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Explanation
A brilliant metaphor: even winning at gambling (வென்றிடினும்) is like a fish swallowing bait on a hook (தூண்டில் பொன்). Initial gain leads to ultimate destruction. Victory in gambling is deceptive.
விளக்கம்
சூதில் வென்றாலும் வேண்டாம். அது தூண்டில் முள்ளில் மாட்டிய மீன் போல, முதலில் இன்பம் தந்தாலும் பின் துன்பம் வரும். சூது செல்வத்தை அழிக்கும்; இது சூது அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து. ஆசைப்படாமல் இருப்பதே நல்லது.
Word meanings
- வேண்டற்கvēṇṭaṟkado not desire
- வென்றிடினும்veṉṟiṭiṉumeven if winning
- சூதினைcūtiṉaigambling
- வென்றதுveṉṟatuwinning
- தூண்டில்tūṇṭilfishing hook
- பொன்poṉgold/bait
- மீன்mīṉfish
- விழுங்கிviḻuṅkiswallowing
- அற்றுaṟṟulike
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived a fisherman named Kumar. He was known for his skill, always returning with a bountiful catch. One day, a traveling merchant introduced Kumar to a game of chance. Kumar, initially hesitant, won a small sum. Intrigued, he played again, and again he won, the winnings growing larger each time. He abandoned his fishing, spending his days at the game, betting all he had earned. At first, Kumar reveled in his apparent good fortune. He bought new nets, a larger boat, and even a fine house. But soon, the tide turned. He lost everything. His boat, his nets, his house – all gone. He returned to the river, his hands empty, his heart heavy. He cast his line, but the joy was gone. The river, once a source of life, now seemed to mock his folly. He realized the shimmering gains had been a deceptive lure, and the price, his very livelihood.