Kural #968
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Tamil text
மருந்தோமற்று ஊன்ஓம்பும் வாழ்க்கை
பெருந்தகைமை பீடழிய வந்த இடத்து
Maruntōmaṟṟu ūṉōmpum vāḻkkai
Peruntakaimai pīṭaḻiya vanta iṭattu
English translation
What use is a life that merely preserves the flesh when one's great dignity has been destroyed?
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Explanation
When பெருந்தகைமை (great dignity) is destroyed (பீடு அழிய), what is the point of a life that merely preserves the body (ஊன் ஓம்பும் வாழ்க்கை)? Honor is life; its loss is death.
விளக்கம்
மானம் போனால், உடம்பை மட்டும் காப்பாற்றி என்ன பயன்? பெருமை குலைந்த பின் உயிர் வாழ்வது வீண். மானமே பெரிதெனக் கருதி வாழ வேண்டும். இது மானம் அதிகாரத்தில் வரும் குறள்.
Word meanings
- மருந்துmarunturemedy/use
- ஓōwhat (interrogative)
- மற்றுmaṟṟuthen
- ஊன்ūṉflesh/body
- ஓம்பும்ōmpumpreserving
- வாழ்க்கைvāḻkkailife
- பெருந்தகைமைperuntakaimaigreat dignity
- பீடுpīṭuglory/honor
- அழியaḻiyadestroyed
- வந்தvantawhen it came
- இடத்துiṭattuin the place/time
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his bountiful harvests, always putting the needs of his family first, even if it meant borrowing from the wealthy merchant. Bala, on the other hand, valued his reputation above all. One year, a terrible drought struck. Arun, desperate to feed his children, secretly took grain from Bala's overflowing storehouse. When Bala discovered the theft, he was furious. He could have chosen to forgive Arun, but instead, he made a public spectacle of him, shaming him in front of the entire village. Arun, his face burning with humiliation, could barely meet his children's eyes. Arun’s harvest that year, though meager, was shared amongst all. He had nothing to show for his efforts, and his family was still hungry. Bala's storehouse remained full, but the villagers no longer looked at him with respect. Their eyes held a quiet judgment, a recognition of something lost.