Kural #937
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Tamil text
பழகிய செல்வமும் பண்பும் கெடுக்கும்
கழகத்துக் காலை புகின்
Paḻakiya celvamum paṇpum keṭukkum
Kaḻakattuk kālai pukiṉ
English translation
Entering the gambling den will destroy ancestral wealth and one's character.
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Explanation
Simply entering (காலை புகின் - setting foot in) a gambling den destroys பழகிய செல்வம் (inherited wealth) and பண்பு (character). Both material and moral ruin follow.
விளக்கம்
சூதாட்ட இடத்துக்குப் போனா, பரம்பரையா சேத்த சொத்தும், நல்ல குணமும் நாசமாயிடும். சூது, பொருளை மட்டுமல்ல, ஒழுக்கத்தையும் கெடுக்கும். அதனால சூதிலிருந்து விலகி இருக்கணும்.
Word meanings
- பழகியpaḻakiyainherited/ancestral
- செல்வம்celvamwealth
- பண்புpaṇpucharacter/virtue
- கெடுக்கும்keṭukkumwill destroy
- கழகத்துkaḻakattuof the gambling den
- காலைkālaifoot/step
- புகின்pukiṉif entering
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun inherited a prosperous farm from their father, known for its rich harvests. Bala, however, found farming tedious. He was lured by the flashing dice and spirited calls emanating from the gambling den in the village square. At first, Bala only watched, captivated by the thrill. Soon, he began wagering small sums. He won, and the lure of easy riches tightened its grip. He sold his tools, then portions of his land, always chasing the fleeting fortune promised by the dice. Arun, witnessing his brother's decline, tried to intervene, but Bala was deaf to his pleas. The once-strong farm slowly withered, mirroring Bala's depleted spirit. Finally, the farm was gone, and Bala's reputation, once as bright as the morning sun, was now shadowed by despair. Arun, though saddened, continued to tend his remaining fields, learning from his brother's downfall.