Kural #531
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Tamil text
இறந்த வெகுளியின் தீதே
சிறந்த உவகை மகிழ்ச்சியிற் சோர்வு
Iṟanta vekuḷiyiṉ tītē
Ciṟanta uvakai makiḻcciyiṟ cōrvu
English translation
Negligence arising from excessive joy is worse than excessive anger.
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Explanation
Anger (வெகுளி) is known to be harmful, but the negligence (சோர்வு) born of over-confidence and happiness is even more dangerous. When all seems well, we relax our guard - this is when disaster strikes.
விளக்கம்
மகிழ்ச்சியால் வரும் மறதி, கோபத்தை விட ஆபத்தானது. எல்லாம் நல்லா இருக்குன்னு அசதியா இருந்தா, அதுவே கெடுதலா முடியும். பொச்சாவாமை அதிகாரப்படி, எப்போதும் விழிப்பா இருக்கணும்.
Word meanings
- இறந்தiṟantaexcessive
- வெகுளியின்vekuḷiyiṉthan anger
- தீதேtītēis worse
- சிறந்தciṟantagreat/excessive
- உவகைuvakaijoy
- மகிழ்ச்சியின்makiḻcciyiṉfrom happiness
- சோர்வுcōrvunegligence/lethargy
Story behind this kural
The prosperous village of Eldoria celebrated a bountiful harvest. Farmer Giles, whose granaries overflowed, hosted a feast. Laughter and merriment echoed through the square. Giles, flush with success, declared, "We are blessed! Let us lower our watch, for what harm can come?" Meanwhile, in the forest, a cunning fox, observing the celebrations, saw his chance. The village guards, distracted by the revelry, had forgotten their duties. The fox, swift and silent, crept into the unguarded poultry yard. The next morning, the village awoke to a scene of chaos. Feathers lay scattered, and the hens were gone. Giles, his joy now replaced with dismay, surveyed the damage. He realized that the greatest dangers often lurk when one feels most secure. The joy of the harvest had blinded them, and their carelessness had invited misfortune. The fox, well-fed, disappeared back into the forest, leaving behind a lesson etched in loss.