Snippet from Thirukkural

I'm extremely proud of being born in a Tamil culture because of its values and the beauty of the language itself. The Tamil culture has very long history behind it. There are lot of literature and spiritual books available in Tamil language. Among those, I read the below 2 books almost everyday and they are very valuable to me.
1. "Thirukkural"  by Thiruvalluvar
2. "Thiruvasagam" by Saint Manickavasagar

Tamil language is among-st the oldest living languages of the world with its extra-ordinary volume of literature and grammar. It has been the means through which people have vividly expressed their understanding, aspirations and ideals. Its oldest work Tolkaappiyam dates back to about 200 years BC. Some of the greatest works of ancient Tamil are of the Sangam period. The poets of the Sangam age belonged to all categories of occupations ranging from potters and peasants of a village to the merchants and the noble class. Among them were also women poets. This is a sign of equality in Tamil society. In fact, the message of peace, universality and of the human race being one was propounded more than 2000 years ago by a Sangam poet in the famous lines:

Thirukural written by Thiruvalluvar is a remarkable treatise on ethics. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian Nation, at one point of time is known to have said, "I wanted to learn Tamil to enable me to study Valluvar's Thirukural in his mother tongue itself. It is a treasure of wisdom."

 

For contented human life, three things are essential and Thirukkural has this as 3 major divisions.
1. Aram or Dharma (Ethics or Righteousness)
2. Porul or Artha (Material wealth)
3. Inbam or Kama (Pleasure)


Different countries, different cultures have different disciplines/ethics/moral codes. In this blog post, I analyse or understand the ethics/morality and it's importance from Thirukkural.

In the below kural, Thiruvalluvar says real happiness in human life can come only if we live with morality.

அறத்தான் வருவதே இன்பம்மற் றெல்லாம்
புறத்த புகழும் இல.

மு.வரதராசனார் உரை :

அறநெறியில் வாழ்வதன் பயனாக வருவதே இன்பமாகும்; அறத்தோடு பொருந்தாமல் வருவன எல்லாம் இன்பம் இல்லாதவை; புகழும் இல்லாதவை.

Yogi Shuddhananda Translations :

Weal flows only from virtue done The rest is rue and renown gone.


Now the natural question is how do we define the morality. Thiruvalluvar answers that in another kural. Anything that we do from the purity of mind is moral.

மனத்துக்கண் மாசிலன் ஆதல்; அனைத்துஅறன்;
ஆகுல நீர பிற.

மு.வரதராசனார் உரை :

ஒருவன் தன் மனத்தில் குற்றம் இல்லாதவனாக இருக்க வேண்டும்; அறம் அவ்வளவே; மனத்தூய்மை இல்லாத மற்றவை ஆரவாரத் தன்மை உடையவை.

Yogi Shuddhananda Translations :

In spotless mind virtue is found And not in show and swelling sound.


Ok. How do we purify our mind? Below kural answers that. Only truth or honesty can help us to get rid of the clutter within us and keep our mind clear. Without taking honest look at us, we will live life less than the best. Truth gives us tremendous amount of strength.

புறந்தூய்மை நீரான் அமையும் அகந்தூய்மை
வாய்மையால் காணப் படும்.

மு.வரதராசனார் உரை :

புறத்தே தூய்மையாக விளங்குதல் நீரினால் ஏற்படும்; அதுபோல அகத்தே தூய்மையாக விளங்குதல் வாய்மையால் உண்டாகும்.

Yogi Shuddhananda Translations :

Water makes you pure outward Truth renders you pure inward.⁠⁠⁠⁠