Kural #941
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Tamil text
மிகினும் குறையினும் நோய்செய்யும்
நூலோர் வளிமுதலா எண்ணிய மூன்று
Mikiṉum kuṟaiyiṉum nōyceyyum
Nūlōr vaḷimutalā eṇṇiya mūṉṟu
English translation
The three humors - wind, bile, and phlegm - as described by medical texts, cause disease when excessive or deficient.
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Explanation
This kural introduces the traditional Tamil/Siddha medical concept of முக்குற்றம் (three humors): வளி (wind/vata), ஆழி/பித்தம் (bile/pitta), and ஐயம்/கபம் (phlegm/kapha). Balance is health; imbalance is disease.
விளக்கம்
குறள் 941, மருந்து அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளது. வாதம், பித்தம், கபம் என்னும் மூன்று உடற்கூறுகள் அளவு மீறினாலும் குறைந்தாலும் நோய் வரும். உடலைச் சமநிலையில் வைத்துக்கொள்வது நல்லது. இதுவே ஆரோக்கியத்திற்கான வழி.
Word meanings
- மிகினும்mikiṉumif excessive
- குறையினும்kuṟaiyiṉumif deficient
- நோய்nōydisease
- செய்யும்ceyyumcauses
- நூலோர்nūlōrscholars/medical texts
- வளிvaḷiwind (vata)
- முதலாmutalābeginning with
- எண்ணியeṇṇiyaenumerated
- மூன்றுmūṉṟuthree
Story behind this kural
In the village of Eldoria, lived three siblings: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata, the eldest, was a whirlwind, always restless and energetic, rarely sleeping. Pitta, the middle child, burned with fiery ambition and a short temper, always demanding more. Kapha, the youngest, was slow and steady, content with simple pleasures, often sluggish. One harvest season, Vata, driven by his boundless energy, insisted on planting extra crops, exhausting the soil. Pitta, fueled by greed, demanded the biggest share of the harvest, leaving nothing for the villagers. Kapha, preferring rest, neglected his duties, letting weeds choke his fields. As winter approached, the village fell ill. Those who followed Vata suffered from a wasting sickness. Those who followed Pitta were consumed by fever. Those who followed Kapha were struck with a deep lethargy. Only those who found a balance, tending their fields with care, sharing the harvest fairly, and resting when needed, remained healthy.