Kural #987
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Tamil text
இன்னாசெய் தார்க்கும் இனியவே செய்யாக்கால்
என்ன பயத்ததோ சால்பு
Iṉṉācey tārkkum iṉiyavē ceyyākkāl
Eṉṉa payattatō cālpu
English translation
What use is nobility if one does not do good even to those who have done harm?
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Explanation
This challenging kural asks: what is the point of claiming nobility if you only treat good people well? True nobility is proven by responding to harm with kindness. This is the highest test of character - returning good for evil.
விளக்கம்
இக்குறள் சான்றாண்மை அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளது. தீங்கு செய்தவர்க்கும் நன்மை செய்யாவிட்டால், நம் பெருமைக்கு என்ன பயன்? துன்பம் தந்தவர்க்கும் இன்பம் தருவதே சிறந்த பண்பாகும். இதுவே சால்பின் அடையாளம்.
Word meanings
- இன்னாiṉṉāharm/evil
- செய்தார்க்கும்ceytārkkumeven to those who did
- இனியவேiṉiyavēpleasant things/good
- செய்யாக்கால்ceyyākkālif not doing
- என்னeṉṉawhat
- பயத்ததுpayattatuis the use
- சால்புcālpunobility
Story behind this kural
In a quiet village nestled beside a shimmering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun possessed a vast, fertile field, while Bala’s land was smaller and less productive. One harsh summer, a terrible drought struck. Arun, hoarding his water, watched Bala's crops wither, secretly pleased. When the rains finally returned, Arun's well overflowed. Knowing Bala's hardship, the villagers expected Arun to remain distant. Instead, Arun, remembering the village's shared need, used his newfound abundance to help Bala. He sent water to Bala's parched field, ensuring a harvest for him as well. Bala, ashamed of his previous envy, approached Arun, offering thanks. Arun simply smiled, "The river flows for all, friend." Later that year, the harvest was bountiful for both. The villagers observed, marveling at Arun's generosity. They understood the true measure of a man lay not in what he possessed, but in how he chose to share it, especially in moments of adversity.