The Greatness of Knowledge: A King's Six Traits and the Importance of Seeking Wisdom, Lecture notes of English

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THIRUKKURAL

OF

(1) அரசிய (381 to 630)

TRANSLITERATION AND TRANSLATION

BY

Narayanalakshmi

PART TWO

ெபாபா (1)

VERSES ON ARTHA [MATERIAL WEALTH]

அரசிய / POLITICS

• 39. இைறமாசி – pg (381 to 630)
• 40. கவ - pg
• 41. கலாைம - pg
• 42. ேக%வ - pg
• 43. அறி'ைடைம - pg
• 44. )*ற+க,த - pg
• 45. ெப/யாைர0 1ைண3ேகாட - pg
• 46. சி*றின5 ேசராைம - pg
• 47. ெத/61 ெசயவைக - pg
• 48. வலியறித - pg
• 49. காலமறித - pg
• 50. இடனறித - pg
• 51. ெத/61 ெதள9த - pg
• 52. ெத/61 வ ைனயாட - pg
• 53. :*ற6 தழா - pg
• 54. ெபா<சாவாைம - pg
• 55. ெச+ேகா=ைம - pg
• 56. ெகா>+ேகா=ைம - pg
• 57. ெவவ6த ெச?யாைம - pg
• 58. க@ேணாட5 - pg
• 59. ஒ*றாட - pg
• 60. ஊ3க5 உைடைம - pg
• 61. ம, இ=ைம - pg
• 62. ஆ%வ ைன உைடைம - pg
• 63. இ>3க@ அழியாைம - pg

(The foremost quality of a ruler is courage. He must not ever give way to cowardice whatever the danger he meets with; especially in the battle-field. He must be munificent and kind towards all. He must be intelligent and learned. He must have the enthusiasm to invent new and fresher things into his country to bring progress among people. If these four qualities are missing, he is not fit to rule a kingdom.)

M+காைம கவ 1ண 'ைடைம அ5N=G

நO+கா நிலனா% பவ*)

THOONGAAMAI KALVI THUNIVUDAIMAI AMMOONDRRUM NEENGAANILANAAL PAVARRKU

Alertness, learning, courage at all times-

these three characters always should belong to a person who rules a land.

(A king cannot give way to laziness, lethargy and non-alertness. He should be always aware of what is going on around him. He must be a master of all learning. He should not be a coward. He must face all dangers with courage.)

அறன9P3கா தலைவ நO3கி மறன9P3கா

மான Qைடய தர:

ARRANIZHAKKAA THALLAVAI NEEKKI MARRANIZHAKKAA MAANA MUDAIYA THARASU

Not ever swerving from the path of righteousness;

removing all that is not righteous;

a king should rule his country with valor and honor.

இய*றR5 ஈடR+ கா0தR+ கா0த

வ)0தR5 வல தர:

IYATRRALUM EETTALUN KAATTHALUN KAATTA VAGUTTALUM VALLA THARASU

The king who can

manage well the production of wealth;

increase the wealth of the country (consequently);

safeguard the (increased) wealth of the country;

and distribute the safe guarded wealth correctly in the country;

is indeed efficient.

காசி ெகள9ய= க>Hெசால= அலேன

மS3EG5 ம=ன= நில

KAATSI KELIYAN KADUNCHOLLAN ALLANEL MEEKKOORRUM MANNAN NILAM

If the king is attired in simple clothes,

and does not speak harsh words,

then such a country ruled by such a king is extolled by all.

(If a king maintains a simple life-style and easily mingles with the public without arrogance, not only he, but his country also will occupy a praiseworthy place in the world.)

(387)

தா=க@ டைன0திT 'ல)

INCCHOLAAL EETTHALIKKA VALLAARRKKUTH THANSOLAAL THAANKANDANAITTHIV VULAGU

A king who with pleasing words offers help and protects his subjects,

will be praised by his subjects and will get the world that is to his liking.

(A king should be like father to his king. The best example of such a king is Janaka who ruled the city of Mithilaa. As he was so caring and affectionate, he was known as ‘Janaka’ the father. Such a king shines like a Sun among all other kings.)

KALVI

LEARNING

KARRKA KASADARRAK KARRPAVAI KATTRAPIN NIRRKA ATHARRKUTH THAGA

Learn, without any taint.

After learning whatever you want,

then live a life accordingly.

{A person who is in the responsible post of administration must be an educated man for sure. He should be learned. Not only the king, but every man or woman of this world should be learned. Learning is the only acquirement that makes a man to differ from an animal. Other than the survival acts of eating, sleeping and reproducing, the ability to acquire knowledge alone makes a man more evolved than a dog or a cow. How should you learn? When you are engaged in studies, do not taint your mind with the ideas of pleasures and enjoyments and swerve from the path of learning. A ‘Sanskrit-saying’ states- Where is learning for a person who seeks only comfort? Where is comfort for anyone who seeks learning? Here comfort means laziness, lethargy and the pull towards enjoyments which makes a student neglect his studies. After the acquirement of learning without tainting the mind with the ideas of pleasures, you must live a life guided by the knowledge you have attained. Learning is sought not for making you eligible for a job; but it should be the guiding light of your life till death.}

எ@ெண=ப ஏைன ெயP0ெத=ப இTவ ர@>+

க@ெண=ப வாP5 உய X3)

ENNENNENPA ENAI YEZHATHTHENPA IVVIRANDUNK KANNENNENPA VAAZHAM UYIRKKU

The learning of numbers and the letters-

these two are the two eyes for the living person.

{Why should you seek knowledge-? Because knowledge alone gives the true vision of the world! Lord Shiva is praised in all the three worlds because he has the third eye of knowledge. Nothing is impossible for him. Nothing can upset him. Any man or woman belonging to any world is to be considered as blind, if he or she is not learned in the true sense. If you want to avoid that blindness of ignorance, you must master the main two branches of learning for sure; one is the science of numbers and the other is the understanding of letters. A man (or woman) who knows how to read has access to all the knowledge-books of the world. The more languages you master, you will have access to that many more books, even of those great authors are no more. A man who knows mathematics can excel in all the sciences that belong to the world. He will know the working of the entire universe, if he masters mathematics. Hence, a man who is a master of numbers and letters can see the world as it is. He alone is blessed with the true vision.]

க@Zைடய ெர=பவX க*ேறாX Qக0திர@>

L@ZைடயX கலா தவX

KANNUDAIYAREPAVAR KATROR MUGATTHIRANDU PUNNUDAIYAR KALLATHAVAR

Those who have eyes are the learned alone.

Those who have no learning have only two sores in their faces!

{What is the mark of true learning? A learned man is always humble and eager to learn more. He must stand in front of the other learned men, like a beggar standing in front of a wealthy man. Socrates said once- What I have learnt is like is a handful of sand on the beach. What I have not learnt extends to the size of the ocean. There is so much to know; so much to learn! The path of learning has no end! The thirst for knowledge can be satisfied, only if you are ready to seek the feet of the wise and learn from them what they know. A man who acts idiotic with the attitude – ‘I already know’ can never learn anything in this world. A man, who lacks humbleness and has no eagerness to master more learning, is indeed as foolish as any illiterate person, even if he knows how to read and write. A mechanical learning without understanding leads nowhere. Learn to be modest; and humbly seek knowledge from anywhere and everywhere if you want to be cured of the blindness of ignorance.}

(396)

ெதாடைன0 MG மண*ேகண மா6தX3)

க*றைன0 MG5 அறி'

THOTTANAITH THOORU MANARRKENI MAANTHARRKKUK KATTRANAITHTHOORRUM ARRIVU

Water keeps oozing out as you keep digging the ground.

So also, knowledge keeps oozing as men keep learning.

{Dig the land; water oozes a little. Dig more; more water oozes out. The more you dig, more the amount of water. There is no end to the water inside the ground. So also, knowledge keeps on increasing as you keep on learning. There is no ‘finish’ line in the path of knowledge.}

யாதா[5 நாடாமா ஊராமா எ=ெனாவ=

சா61ைண+ கலாத வாG

YAATHAANUM NAADAAM OORAAMAAL ENNORUVAN SAANTHUNAIYUNK KALLATHAVAARRU

Any land is his land; any city is his city.

When this is a known fact, why does not a man learn anything till death?

{A Sanskrit-saying says- A king is worshipped in his own country. A learned man is worshipped all over the world. A man of learning is respected and revered wherever he goes. People treat him with love and respect to whichever country he goes. Knowledge has no border-line problems. It needs no visa! When such a glory belongs to a man of learning, why do people disregard learning and go after pleasures which give only momentary satisfaction? A man who seeks knowledge does not bother about the source of knowledge as to where it came from or who has it. He respects all learned men of all countries equally. A human being alone has an evolved brain which can grasp knowledge through the medium of language. Being blessed with a human body, if one avoids learning, he fares no better than a cow or dog that just eats and sleeps and reproduces! And how long can you learn? Till Death! (See the example of Stephen Hawkins, a British physicist, who is almost entirely paralyzed and communicates through a speech generating device. He is one of the foremost among the learned men who is revered all over the world for his contribution to the study of Physics. If such a man who cannot even move his muscles at will, can learn so much, what a man with all limbs intact can not do?)

(398)

ெகPைம\5 ஏமாU Lைட

ORUMAIKKAN THAAN KATRA KALVI ORUVARR KEZHANMAIYUM EMAAPPUDAITTHU

The learning mastered in one life

will safeguard him for seven births.

KALLAAMAI

NOT-LEARNING

]லி=றி3 ேகா, ெகாள

ARANGINRRI VATTAADIYATRRE NIRAMBIYA NOOLINRRIK KOTTI KOLAL

Without the mastery of the required books of study,

if one speaks in an assembly,

it is equal to playing dice without the marked squares.

(Whenever you are participating in any discussion, do not speak out unless you know something about the subject. If you have not studied well the texts that explain the topic under discussion, you will get yourself into a ridiculous position by uttering some nonsensical statement; rather if you remain silent, you will gain more respect. You can never play a game of dice on a game-board which has not been marked with the measured number of squares. Only a mad person can make a mockery of such a play and get laughed at. Similarly if a non-learned person, who has no idea at all of what the discussion is about, speaks out in an assembly of the learned - he will also become an object of ridicule for others.)

(402)

கலாதா= ெசா*கா QGத= Qைலய ர@>

இலாதா% ெப@காQ* ற*G

KALLAATHAAN SORRKAAMURRUTHAN MULAIYIRANDUM ILLAATHHAL PENKAAMUTRRATRRU

If one appreciates the words of a person who has not mastered the subject,

then it equals the desire one has for a woman who has no pair of breasts.

(Suppose the man who speaks out in the assembly without any understanding of the subject is a man of influence or a man of wealth; and if some of his followers applaud his speech, then it is as ridiculous and idiotic as desiring a female who has no feminine characteristics at all!)

கலா தவ5 நன9நலX க*றாXQ=

ெசாலா தி3கU ெபறி=

KALLAATHAVARUM NANINALLAR KATRRAARMUN CHOLLAATHIRUKKAKP PERRIN

Even those who have no learning will pass off as good,

if they know how not to speak out anything,

in the assembly of wise men.

(If you happen to be sitting in the assembly of the wise and if you are not familiar with the study of the subject; then do not try to draw the attention of everyone there by uttering some nonsense; but silently listen to the others who are talking sense. By listening also you will rise to their level of understanding and maybe have a few doubts cleared by them. That itself will bring you more appreciation.)

கலாதா= ஒப+ கழியந= றாய [+

ெகா%ளாX அறி'ைட யாX

KALLAATHAAN OTPANGKAZHIYANANTRAAYINUNK KOLLAAR ARRIVUDAIYAAR

The words of a man who has not acquired learning,

will not be accepted by the wise,

even if he is intelligent otherwise.

(Maybe you do not know the technicalities of the subject; but have a vague understanding of what the discussion is about. Even then your words will be ignored because you have not studied the required text. Even Einstein had to prove his concept through proper mathematical method, before his theory was accepted by other renowned physicists. You may be a good devotee of Lord Krishna; but if the discussion is about Bhagavad- Gita, you cannot take part in the discussion, unless you have read the text thoroughly.)

^@மா@ ^ைழLல மிலா= எழிநல

ம@மா@ Lைனபாைவ ய*G

NUNMAAN NUZHAIPULA MILLAAN EZHIL NALAM MANNMAANN PUNAIPAVAI YATRRU

The beauty seen in the physical form of a man,

who does not have the intelligence - sharp and analytical,

is like the beauty found in a nicely made clay doll.

(You can cover your nine-holed stinking body in the most expensive clothes available in the market and flaunt yourself as some great being sanctifying the earth; but if you have not the intelligence and knowledge as your true identity, then, you are nothing more than a well-painted clay-doll! Your brain-level will not equal even that of a mosquito; you will be a lifeless inert mud doll decorated with expensive adornments. A man who is attired in simple clothes will be acclaimed by the whole world if he has acquired knowledge through proper studies.)

நலாXக@ பட வGைமய = இ=னாேத

கலாXக@ பட தி

NALLAARKAN PATTA VARRUMAIYIN INNAATHE KALLAARKAN PATTA THIRU

The wealth belonging to those without learning

will be more woeful

than the poverty experienced by the learned.

(If you possess material wealth and not the wealth of learning; you will soon lose all that you possess through your stupid actions and end up as a beggar on street. But a wise man though living in poverty has the wealth of knowledge which can never be taken away by others. He is always happy. But you the wealthy idiot will be always under the stress of losing your possessions.)

ேம*ப ற6தா ராய [+ கலாதாX கீWUப ற61+

க*றா ரைன0திலX பா>

MERRPIRRANTHAARAAYINUNK KALLAATHAAR KEEZHPPIRRANTHUNK KARRAARANAITHTHILAR PAADU

Though born in a renowned family,

those who are not learned do not gain respect,

like the learned who may belong to lowly families.

(If you are proud that you are born in a renowned family and so will gain respect in the society; you are thoroughly wrong. your father or mother might have gained a good name in the society, but unless you prove your greatness by your own talents (or studies), you will be ignored by the wise and end up in a sad state of affairs; whereas an ordinary man or woman born in an ordinary family may gain honor and fame in the society through his or her learning skills.)

(410)

வ ல+ெகா> ம3க ளைனயX இல+)]

க*றாேரா ேடைன யவX

VILANGODU MAKKALANAIYAR ILANGUNOOL KARRAARODENAIYAVAR

Humans shine as different from animals;

so are those who have mastered various texts of knowledge from others.

(You - a two-legged creature standing next to the dog on the street chewing the rotten bone - may appear to belong to the evolved species of human. You are not eating grass like a cow or jumping on the branches like a monkey. But, are you really human; so wonder the wise who have acquired knowledge through proper studies! A man without learning is like a dog or stupid monkey when standing next to a man of learning.)

(The main purpose of the life should be to acquire knowledge by seeking the company of the learned. That alone is the real food that will nourish you and make you grow. Only now and then, when the contact of the learned is not there, then the body will be given some food or other through the mouth. Ordinary food consumed through the mouth nourishes only the body; but the food consumed through ears, nourishes the soul.)

ெசவ \ணவ * ேக%வ \ைடயாX அவ \ணவ =

ஆ=றாேரா ெடாUபX நில

CHEVIYUNAVIRR KELVIYUDAIYAAR AVIYUNAVIN AANRRAARODOPPAR NILATTHU

Those who consume the food for the ears through listening,

are equal to those Gods who consume the oblations in sacrifices.

(When you acquire knowledge through the process of listening (Shravana), then you are in the level of Gods. They consume the sacred oblations offered in the sacrificial fire. You are consuming the sacred knowledge through your ears! )

கறில னாய [+ ேகக அஃெதாவ

KATTRILA NAAYINUNG KETKA AஃTTHORUVARR KORRKATTHIN OORRAAN THUNAI

Even if one is not learned,

he must at least develop the quality of listening.

That will be like a supporting staff to him when he is in difficulties.

(Maybe all are not fortunate enough to acquire learning through the study of texts as advised in the previous section (Learning). Such people should at least develop the habit of listening to the words of the learned. Even that much of knowledge will act as the supporting staff when walking through the jagged path of life.)

இP3க Rைட\ழி ஊG3ேகா லேற

ஒP3க QைடயாXவா?< ெசா

IZHAKKALUDAIYUZHI OOTRRUKKOLARRE OZHAKKAMUDAIYAAR VAAYCCHOL

The words from the noble men will be of help like

the supporting staff helps a man walking on slippery land.

(The knowledge you acquired by listening to the words of the learned will prove as a guiding light in the dark path of life. You will not swerve from the path of righteousness if you possess even a little of the knowledge offered by the learned.)

எைன0தா[5 நலைவ ேகக அைன0தா[

ENAITTHAANUM NALLAVAI KETKA ANAITTHAANUM AANTRA PERUMAI THARUM

If one listens to good things even a little,

that renders greatness that much.

(It does not matter if you have not the access to great texts or lack the time to read them. If you can gather even tiny bits of knowledge here and there, that itself will you make you outshine others of your level.)

(417)

ப ைழ01ணX615 ேபைதைம ெசாலா /ைழ01ணX

தO@,ய ேக%வ யவX

PIZHAITTHUNANTHUM PETHAIMAI CHOLLAARIZHATTHUNATN THEENDIYA KELVIYAVAR

Even if the understanding might be a little faulty,

those who listen and analyze what they have heard,

will not talk nonsense.