Tirukkural Classics -A Kiss for a Blow

குறள் 314:

“இன்னாசெய் தாரை ஒறுத்தல் அவர்நாண
நன்னயஞ் செய்து விடல்”

உரை:

இன்னா செய்தவரைத் தண்டித்தல் அவரே நாணும் படியாக அவருக்கு நல்லுதவி செய்து அவருடைய தீமையையும் நன்மையையும் மறந்து விடுதலாகும்.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION ( KURRAL-314)

“The way to punish those who harmed us is to shame them;

by doing them good.”

A KISS FOR A BLOW.

AFTER a long time, Raju and Sita’s uncle Balu visited their house. Ramu and Sita were brother and sister studying 5^th and 3^rd grade respectively in their village school. They lived with their mother who was a peasant. Their mother, looking at her brother’s arrival to their home, warmly welcomed him and offered him a good meal.

While chatting with him in leisure, she complained about Raju and Sita, as they’re quarrelsome with each other in often. Balu too noticed that, Raju was got angry with his sister about something while sitting along with her, doubled up his fist and struck her on the head.

The little girl was just going to strike him back again, and their uncle, seeing it, said, "My dear Sita, can't you kiss your brother? See how angry and unhappy he looks."

Sita looked at her brother. He looked sullen and wretched. Her resentment was soon gone, and love for her brother returned to her heart. She threw her arms about his neck and kissed him.

The poor boy was wholly unprepared for so kind a return for his blow. He could not resist the gentle affection of his sister. He was wholly overcome, and he burst into tears, sobbing violently.

His gentle sister took the corner of her apron wiped away his tears, and sought to comfort him by saying, “Don’t cry, brother; you did not hurt me much." But he only wept the more. No wonder;

it was enough to make anybody weep.

But why did Raju weep? Poor little fellow! Would he have wept if his sister had struck him in return ? Not he. But by kissing him as she did, she made him feel more deeply than if she had beaten him black and blue.

Here was a kiss for a blow—love for anger; and what was meant by “Overcoming  evil with the good."