Kural #967
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Tamil text
ஒட்டார்பின் சென்றொருவன் வாழ்தலின்
அந்நிலையே கெட்டான் எனப்படுதல் நன்று
Oṭṭārpiṉ ceṉṟoruvaṉ vāḻtaliṉ
Annilayē keṭṭāṉ eṉappaṭutal naṉṟu
English translation
Better to be called "ruined" in that position than to live by following those who reject you.
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Explanation
It is better to be considered ruined (கெட்டான் எனப்படுதல்) in one's position than to survive by following those who have rejected you (ஒட்டார்). Death of honor is worse than apparent failure.
விளக்கம்
மானம் காக்க, நம்மை வேண்டாதார் பின் செல்வதை விட, வறுமையில் வாடுவது மேல். மானம் கெட்டு வாழ்வதை விட, அப்போதே அழிவது நல்லது. இது மானம் அதிகாரத்தில் முக்கியம்.
Word meanings
- ஒட்டார்oṭṭārthose who reject
- பின்piṉbehind/following
- சென்றுceṉṟugoing
- ஒருவன்oruvaṉa person
- வாழ்தலின்vāḻtaliṉthan living
- அந்நிலையேannilayēin that position itself
- கெட்டான்keṭṭāṉruined
- எனப்படுதல்eṉappaṭutalbeing called
- நன்றுnaṉṟuis good
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two merchants, Arun and Bala. Arun, once wealthy, suffered a series of misfortunes and fell upon hard times. Bala, his former rival, had prospered. Arun, desperate, swallowed his pride and sought Bala's help. Bala, remembering their past competition, offered Arun a meager position, dependent on Bala's whims. Arun, though hungry, found the work demeaning. He was constantly reminded of his dependence. He lost his dignity, his self-respect eroding with each passing day. One day, Arun overheard Bala mocking his situation to other merchants. Arun, stung by the insult, understood that his current life was worse than any failure. He quietly left Bala's employment, choosing to face an uncertain future. He started anew, with nothing but his skills and his name. Though his journey was long and hard, he regained his standing and, more importantly, his honor.