Kural #96
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Tamil text
அல்லவை தேய அறம்பெருகும்
நல்லவை நாடி இனிய சொலின்
Allavai tēya aṟamperukum
Nallavai nāṭi iṉiya coliṉ
English translation
If one seeks to speak words that are both good and pleasant, evil will diminish and virtue will increase.
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Explanation
This kural reveals the transformative power of good speech. When we consciously choose words that are both beneficial (நல்லவை) and pleasant (இனிய), negative forces in the world diminish while virtue grows. Speech can either heal or harm the world.
விளக்கம்
இக்குறள் இனியவை கூறல் அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளது. நல்ல, இனிமையான சொற்களைப் பேசினால், தீமைகள் குறையும்; அறம் வளரும். நன்மையே விளையும் என்பது இதன் பொருள். இனிய சொற்கள் வாழ்வை உயர்த்தும்.
Word meanings
- அல்லவைallavaievil things/wrong
- தேயtēyato diminish/wear away
- அறம்aṟamvirtue
- பெருகும்perukumwill increase
- நல்லவைnallavaigood things
- நாடிnāṭiseeking/desiring
- இனியiṉiyapleasant
- சொலின்coliṉif spoken
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his harsh tongue, quick to anger and criticism. His crops often failed, and his neighbors kept their distance. Bala, however, always spoke with kindness, even when faced with hardship. If a cow wandered into his field, he’d gently guide it out, thanking the owner for retrieving it. One year, a terrible drought struck. Arun’s well ran dry, and his fields cracked under the sun. Angry, he stormed to Bala's well, demanding water. Bala, though his own stores were low, offered Arun what he could spare, speaking words of comfort and shared struggle. Soon, other villagers, witnessing Bala’s generosity and gentle words, offered him aid. Arun, ashamed by his earlier behavior, slowly began to change his ways. He saw how the village, united by Bala's kind words, managed to survive, while his own bitterness isolated him further. The rain eventually came, and Arun’s fields, now tilled with a newfound patience, began to flourish.