REDEEM THE WORLD WITH

The Wisdom of Thirukkural

 REDEEM THE WORLD WITH
The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Rashid Gazzali

Nilgiri College of Arts and Science

(English)
REDEEM THE WORLD WITH
The Wisdom of Thirukkural
(Study)
By
Rashid Gazzali
All Rights reserved

Published by
Nilgiri College of Arts and Science
Thaloor, The Nilgiris, 643 239.
Tamil Nadu, India
Cover Design: Mansoor Cherooppa
Price Rupees: Hundred
Rashid Gazzali is a renowned social activist,
educational leader, motivational speaker,
spiritual mentor and author. His passion for
extending community service and bringing social
reformation made him to be the founding General
Secretary and Executive Director of Sign Institute
for Social Leadership. Under his leadership,
Sign has been rendering extraordinary services
catering to different strata of people. He is
also acclaimed as international trainer and HR
Consultant. As multilingual speaker in philosophy
and prophetic values attracts thousands in
different countries and has become regular
invitee to various reputed institutions.
Contents
Preface
Invocation
The Power of Morality
The Boon of Children
Sweet Talk
Gratitude
Self Control
Attributions of Help in Need
Fame
Anger
Envy and Slander
 Message

First of all, I congratulate and appreciate

the innovative and energetic minds of Nilgiri
College of Arts and Science, for such novel
initiatives to improve the state of education in
this rural area. The awareness that the College
provides not only to the students but also to the
common people is highly remarkable. Considering
the need of the hour, the college has proposed
to release Thirukkural in three languages. The
college being located at the border of Tamil Nadu
and Kerala, where multilingualism prevails, such
an initiative will encourage the common people
to read Thirukkural and stand on the merits that
the visionary poet puts forward.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Thirukkural is a universal text that has

reached the masses beyond geological and
language boundaries. Thiruvalluvar is a writer
who is committed towards life and his teaching
is purely practical. As such, I strongly believe
that this initiative by this college will definitely
bring individual and societal changes, and lead
towards national growth.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate

the college for the World Record on the
performance of Badaga Dance by a large number
of participants. It is a great way of taking the
cultural heritage of the region to the international
level and that is a great sign of education. I
wish the college to bring forth more innovative
steps for the betterment of the students and the
society. Wishing all success! Jai Hind!

Prof. P Kaliraj
Vice-Chancellor,
Bharathiar University Coimbatore

8
 Chapter One

Invocation

There was once a man whose doctor

assured him of a lease of ninety years of healthy
life. The doctor reasoned that this man was
very meticulous about health care, routine
medical checkup, strict dietary regulations and
regular exercise and he had ample scientific
justifications to maintain such a possibility. It
might seem ironic that in spite of the claims and
assurances of the doctor, this man met with an
accident and succumbed to his injuries the next
week. This incident should be an eye opener and
a reminder in learning lessons of humility giving

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

insight into forces beyond the grasp of man

that nullify human judgments. Such occasions
render man a helpless creature and we will be
constrained to acknowledge the truth of a force
beyond our understanding that controls and
sustains this universe.

The wisdom of the ages teaches us that

obeisance to the almighty is a gesture of our
soul’s nobility. Since we are all creations, we got
to acknowledge and accept the supreme creator,
and that is the right thing to do too.

‘A’ is the first of the alphabet,

God is the primary force of the world. (Kural 1)

Just as the alphabet begins with the letter

‘A’, the source of all cosmic mysteries is the
almighty God. Thiruvalluvar reverently validates
this great truth through his sacred verses.

Man’s pretentions of omniscience and self

sufficiency are nothing but a vain display of
ignorance. If a seeker of wisdom fails in honoring
God, the knowledge he carries becomes nothing
but a mere burden. Thiruvalluvar says:

What is the use of all your learning,

If you can’t surrender yourself at the feet of
God. (Kural 2)
Our life should be one that is graced with

10
humility and gratitude to our creator. Such a
devoted life eventually takes its course to the
presence of the almighty God.

God is the ultimate truth that leads us

from the poverty of ignorance to the riches of
wisdom and experience. If it is not from God,
where else can we hope to find a little ray of
light that penetrates the gathering gloom of
agonies in life when we are worn out and lost
in the pathless jungle of life.

The scientific conquests of the digital

age breed arrogance and a false sense of
omnipotence in humankind. However, man fails
in divining our destinies and solving the puzzles
of inscrutable life. Whose decision is it that the
enigmas of the morrows yet to be dawned should
be kept beyond the grasp of even the mighty
conquerors who lorded the empires.

It is a pity that all those who are confident

of themselves are swayed by the unexpected
and fall, never to get up. Man fails miserably
in unfolding the mystery of creation that set
all the tomorrows beyond our reach. Sages
considered the fear of God as the beginning of
wisdom. There is nothing left to us but to humble
ourselves before Him to attain success in life.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

The almighty God is unparalleled in

His ways and nothing on earth passes for a
comparison to vie with the miracles He works.
All the earthly creatures are fallible that we look
worthless before His grandeur. Only those who
worship and live a life that pleases Him shall be
able to overcome the crises that accompany our
earthly life.

Except for those who surrender at the feet of

the one, for whom,
There is no simile, it is tough to cure the mental
rues. (Kural 7)

God is primordial, infinite and timeless.

The singularity of all the divine attributes makes
Him surpass everything that is terrestrial as He
relies on nothing and no one for His existence. It
is nothing but ignorance if we fail to understand
that great truth in our spirit.

There is in man an innate desire to embrace the

divine that transcends the reach of the mortals.
Thiruvalluvr strikes a note of that swelling
yearning within man to be one with God through
these verses.

If man is to live a life worthy of his name

that sets his at the apex of creations, he should
have that discerning spirit in him which realizes

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

the incomparable greatness and love of God. It

is in such a light how man should know God. We
should not fail to remember that God is merciful,
righteous and magnanimous enough to provide
us with the breath of life and protection that we
do not deserve even as we defy His ways with
our ingratitude and arrogance.

We find such insightful visions in the

teachings of the Prophet Mohammed: “God is
gracious enough to come nearer to us as we
draw close to Him. If we shy away from Him, God
will choose not to shower us with His blessings”.
It is a sure sign of the wise and discrete to
consider God as the only refuge in moments
when we are beaten and lose everything we
consider precious in our life.

Thiruvalluvar instructs us that one’s life

becomes fruitful only when we follow the path
of righteousness and define our life by obeying
God in all our ways.

13
 Chapter Two
The Power of Morality

A group of youngsters once gathered in

a pub to drink and celebrate. There began an
argument among them as one of the friends
refused to partake of the drinks. The others
sneered at him questioning his manliness: “Aren’t
you a man?” “Don’t you have any feelings and
emotions?” Do we still have nitwits like him at
this age?” When the barrage became unbearable,
he walked out of the place. Until then they
were all bosom friends, but the reveling team
ruthlessly removed him from their gang.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

The next day, when they were sober again

after the night’s drunken revelry, some of them
felt disbelief at his behavior. They said, “Man, we
just wonder. How could you rein your mind the
way you did?” The fellow rejoined with tears in
his eyes. He said, “It is not because that I was
not desirous of joining the evening’s jubilations,
but all the time I think about my parents who are
farm hands. Though they work the soil to make a
living, they maintain certain values in their lives.
Such a sense of values came down to us through
generations. We also cherish those values and
follow the footprints of our forefathers.

From our very childhood, we are used to

listening to our parents admonishing us not to
stray from their path and bring ill repute to the
family. Whenever I am tempted to pursue the
evil ways, I think about my poor parents and that
is enough to curb myself from wrong doings. It
is my wish not to bring shame on them”. These
words disturb and pester us as they come from
a young man considering that youth is a time
prone to the pursuit of enjoyments in life. We
call it ‘ Dharma’ or a sense of righteousness.

Righteousness yields good reputation and

wealth,
Is there anything more precious? (Kural 31)

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

What is there nobler than this sense of

righteousness to do good alone that brings
fame and heavenly blessings to one’s family?
Our actions should always be endowed with
virtuous intentions. We cannot hope to have a
world where everyone is in pursuit of good alone
rooted in Dharma, but we should try our best to
live a life holding on to the principles of Dharma.
By living such a life, we should try to make the
signposts of our bygone days meaningful and
worthy of contentment in retrospection.

True moral integrity lies in being flawless in your

thoughts,
Everything else is loud and blatant posturing.
(Kural 34)

Our mind should always be pure, innocent

and one without even a trace of falsehood. It is
in that light how Thiruvalluvar looks at Dharma.
It is meaningless to make a show of virtue by
glossing our external actions and rituals with
goodness while our conscience is impure.

The driving force of our life should be a

heart full of devotion to God and actions rooted
in righteousness. All our deeds in life should
be the reflection of the goodness of our heart.
It becomes possible for a man to lead a life of
goodness when our heart becomes pure.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Sree Narayanaguru, a great sage and

social reformer from Kerala, said: “those
who have attained the mark of nobility are
the ones who have worked hard to reinstate
righteousness through their good deeds within
the lease of life allotted to them.” This vision
of Sree Narayanaguru is, in reality, a reflection
of the world of wisdom infused in the verses of
Thiryvalluvar.

There are certain erroneous ideas that

dominate the contemporary world instilling our
minds with base notions: “I am only twenty and
a long time lies ahead of me to do what I choose.
Why should I pose to be the righteous right
now? There is a time to be good when I grow
old.” There are many excuses like these to list. It
baffles our mind when we realize how discerning
Thiruvalluvar was in envisioning a world yet to
be. He was wiser enough to walk ahead of the
times, a seer in divining the workings of the
mind of the youth in ages to come.

Do the righteous deeds now without waiting for

senility to set in,
They will remain your permanent companions
then. (Kural 36)

It is unwise not to do anything until one

dies thinking that there is time enough to do

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

things in the future or that one is still young to

be in a hurry. One should try to do all possible
good deeds in the time available instead. Aspire
for the goodness and wellbeing of all and that is
the only recompense we can hope to have at the
end of our life. The momentary pleasures that
the sinful deeds grant us are certain to drive us
into irrevocable miseries.

A righteous deed deserves to be done,

an evil deed ought to be avoided
to protect oneself from infamy. ( Kural 40)

Unethical deeds are the actions that go

against righteousness and uprightness. Real
happiness is the bliss that one attains through
righteous ways.

There is a moral lesson that Valluvar

perceives in the power of mortality. The best
way to perpetuate Dharma is to live a life
assimilating the goodness of the clan into which
one is born.

Class is determined by propriety of conduct,

impropriety will lead to
Being considered part of an ignoble class. (
Kural 133)
What is required of us is to follow all the
goodness maintained by one’s land, religion,
community and kinsfolk.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Those who don’t learn to abide by the decorous

norms of the society,
Even if well-read, are unwise. (Kural 140)

Thiruvalluvar postulates that those who

do fail to live in harmony with the ways of
the contemporary world following the moral
principles of the society are unwise however
learned they are. The number of books they
have read cannot amend their stupidity. One
may ask, “Who is the true believer?” The only
reply from the prophets is this: “A true believer
is the one who is happy when goodness prevails
and grief stricken when evil triumphs.”

19
 Chapter Three
The Boon of Children

Oneday I reached there to take part in the

annual celebrations of an orphanage as I specially
invited to join them on the occasion. After my
speech, they told me about the old age that they
were running and about the bedridden invalids
who were unable to attend the celebrations.
I had a desire to see those unfortunate souls
and joined a team who guided me there. They
took me to spacious hall. My eyes strayed to an
old man lying in a bed on the farther side with
an oxygen tube attached to him. The moment
he saw me, the old man raised his hand and

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

wished me. I felt so emotional that my mind

was overshadowed with sadness. I felt a tide
of sorrows in my heart that my eyes were filled
with tears. I wondered, “What is the reason for
such a show of familiarity?” When I drew closer,
he made an effort to raise himself with difficulty.
I made him lie back fondly. I noticed that his
eyes were overflowing with tears. Though he
had difficulty in breathing, a nurse removed
the oxygen pump to make it convenient for
him to speak. What he told me in broken words
hurt me deeply. He said, “It seemed to me that
you were my second son when I saw you”. He
remained weeping a little while more. I felt a
surge of anger within me and blurted out, “Don’t
cry, the children who flung you away mercilessly
will have your curses on them”. He seemed to
stop me halfway with his fingers and said, “Don’t
say anything like that; they are like this because
they are ignorant of filial duties; they will come
one day; they will become great”. I could not
stay there any longer.

Children are the greatest treasures to

any parent and they are dearer to them than
the riches, fame, power or anything on earth.
Educated and discerning children are greater
than anything that the parents can hope to have
on earth.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Other than having children who are wise enough

to know what needs to be known,

There is no other treasure that I value more.

(Kural 61)

Through his verses, Thiruvalluvar shares

nothing but a noble message that the children
are the most precious treasures one can hope
to have on earth. Such are the moments of the
greatest contentment and happiness in their
lives when parents can think about a son or a
daughter as the dearest ones to them.

It is the duty of children to make an effort

to be the source of happiness of their parents
and the repute of the family.

All living creatures on this earth feel prouder

When their children are smarter than themselves.
(Kural 68)

It is a great pleasure for the parents

to think that their children are great men of
knowledge.

The duty of a father towards his children is to

give them
A headstart in knowledge over the best of
scholars. (Kural 67)
These are the factors that impel

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Thiruvalluvar to make such an observation.

It is the greatest duty of a father to give
education to their children and make them rich
in knowledge so that they will be able to occupy
prime positions in whatever sphere they are.

In our country, there are millions for whom

the centers of higher education are beyond their
reach because of the difficult circumstances in
their lives. The economic base is so poor that
most of the parents find it very difficult to give
good education to their children. One should
never forget that the parental figures in a family
are nothing but a divine presence that makes
possible the higher education of the children a
reality without any care or trouble.

The duty of a son towards his father is to make

others wonder

What great deeds did the father do to deserve

such a son. (Kural 70)

The children should never forget their

duties to their parents. It is the duty of the
children to see that their parents are praised
with reverence by the world seeing their good
deeds.

The reality of the contemporary world

presents different picture where most of the

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

parents weep for the failures of their children

and the evil ways they pursue. What is there
greater on earth than the happiness in the eyes
of the parents looking at their children growing
and going up in their lives? Such thoughts drive
us to a question of great concern: “Are we really
able to embrace our parents with love and plant
a kiss on their foreheads as a gesture of love
and care?” Do we really become a consolation
for our parents who kept close to us and held
us dearly without a wink of their eyes when we
were sick? What greater blessing is there on
earth than to have noble children?

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 Chapter Four
Sweet Talk

Why is it that the luminous face of Mother

Theresa still lingers in our mind even after
years she took leave of her terrestrial abode?
Is it because of her powerful ideas, or because
of the tremendous speeches she made, or that
she spoke to us in our language? The answer
is: Certainly not !. One can list factors nobler
than these: a sweet smile defeating words, the
words weighed well, a mind that cannot hurt
even an ant and a boundlessly merciful heart
that embraces the suffering ones and there are

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

many more to stretch the list. Mother Theresa

is an inspiration and a passion in the past and
now too for many who have not seen her even
once.

The words uttered by enlightened scholars will

only be
Kind words carrying love and no malice. (Kural
91)
Sweet talk is the tender and good words
of those who have known Dharma guilelessly.
There were great souls in the past who lived the
great teachings Valluvar in their lives and moved
about in the society as living precepts. Pleasant
faces and sweet words were marks of their noble
disposition. How beautifully Valluvar contains
such a great temperament in his verses:

“The words spoken with love and smile shall

confer
More benefits than true charity could offer”

A genuine and gentle smile has become

something alien even among the new among
the generation. These days, we have forgotten
even to smile heartily. Only those who maintain
righteous notions in their hearts can adorn their
faces with a pleasing smile that becomes a
refreshing shower to others. Sweet words can
spring from faces that shine with a gentle smile.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Such people will certainly live on as images of

eternal happiness in the hearts of people even
after ages.

Painful poverty will not afflict someone who

speaks
Only pleasant words to everyone. (Kural 94)

This verse puts forward another great

truth when Valluvar sings that those who speak
sweetly and dearly will never have visitations of
poverty.

To be someone who speaks sweet words with

a smile
Is even better than being philanthropic with a
happy heart. (Kural 92)
“Persons capable of communicating with all
others
Affectionately shall not suffer from poverty.”

There will be many, willing to reach them

with help in times of need. The verse echoes
nothing but the truth that people with good
words and deeds will never be forsaken.

Times wasted and the words sprung from

lips are irrevocable. Same is the fate of posts
shared in the new age. It is our duty, our Dharma
to see that our time and words are put to good
use alone.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

We should learn to behave gently to all,

including our parents, teachers, classmates, the
elders and all the people as a matter of principle.
We should never hurt anyone with our words
because they will remain in their hearts like
embers, smoldering even after the passage of
long years. Valluvar, through his verses, urges us
to think and rethink many a time before putting
our thoughts into words:

It is modesty and kindness to others that

adorn persons better than wearing valuable
ornaments. Humility and pleasant words are the
true jewels, for anyone and not anything else.
(Kural 95)

What do we really have as ours to be

haughty and to be proud of in this life when
we are unsure of even the next moment? Our
beauty, of which we are proud, can be lost in
an accident. The wealth, on which we rely,
may not suffice if we fall prey to a serious or
terminal sickness. As for power and position,
there is no constancy about them and they may
desert us any moment. Our kith and kin are
never certain to be with us always. Since these
are the realities, we should learn that only the
reputation we earn when we are alive endure
forever. We reap the riches of reputation from
nothing but our humility, good words, pleasing

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

smiles and our deeds rooted in righteousness.

Sharing of harsh words, obscenities and

vulgarities has become very common among
the new generation. Certain words are spiteful
and incorrigible to the extent of erasing the very
presence of goodness from the face of earth. It
is a simple truth that goodness and noble values
will have no place in the hearts of people with
whom the use of bad words has almost become
a second nature. On the contrary, the hearts of
such people will be fertile soil for the seeds of
evil impulses. Men of discernment think it wise
not to get involved with such people, but to keep
away instead.

The usage of rude words when we do have

sweet words with us is like being obstinate in
eating bitter and unripe fruits when we have
enough of sweet and ripe fruits.

To be nasty when you can say nice words is like

Tasting an unripe fruit when you have a ripe
one. (Kural 100)

Prophet Mohammed wisely put: “A face

that is unpleasant and a tongue that utters
uncouth words are the traits of the occupants
of hell.”Jesus Christ is the mercy incarnate
who defeated the ones who crucified Him with

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

a smile. Qur’an says: “Good words are like a

towering tree. Its roots spread wide and deep in
the soil while the bows stretch to make a canopy
around beneath the sky.”

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says,

“No one who does good work will ever come to
a bad end, either here or in the world to come.”

30
 Chapter Five
Gratitude

Shinkiri Balan is a native of my place,

popular around as an old archery expert and a
football player. One day, early in the morning,
I found him before my house calling out for me
with a baggage of home grown vegetables. He
had come to see me as he came to know that I
was sick. He remained there for a long time with
us and prayed for me while my parents watched
us over. I found his eyes welling up as he went
on murmuring prayers. I was at a loss thinking
what I had done for this man to deserve such

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

sympathies and to make him so much concerned

about my well being. It was then he recounted
an incident from an old forgotten time. Years
back, he was taken ill and asked for a small
amount of money to pay for the doctor at the
hospital. Calling his name affectionately, I got
out of my car and pushed a few folded notes
into his pocket. What I did then was not much
of a burden for me, but a great help to him and
he was grateful not to forget it. He said, “I have
always remembered and prayed for you all the
time I lighted the lamp for the evening prayers.”
He was still weeping as he related the events.
Seemingly trivial and inconsequential actions of
ours done in the past can leave indelible marks
and may remain rippling in the hearts of gracious
men.

What sustains us is not anything great or

honorable in our being, but the generous prayers
of humble souls like brother Balan that foster us
without being burned out ashes lost in oblivion.
Religion or cast should not be the parameter for
doing good, but humaneness, the greatest of all
religions that should become the driving force
behind all good deeds.

The above mentioned incident has forced

me to brood over my lethargic complacency
and ungrateful attitude. I have conveniently

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

forgotten many who have been of great help to

me on many occasions. This unassuming and
humble commoner taught me a great lesson
that we owe a lifetime of gratitude even for a
simple gesture of kindness.

We should have a mind to be of help even to

those who have never of any help to us. This
whole earth and heaven will not suffice to
recompense such unselfish acts of goodness.

A favour done, not as return for another, is more

valuable than
Heaven and earth put together. (Kural 101)
“Even the heavenly bliss or the comforts on
earth is not enough to
Repay our gratitude for the help received without
any reciprocity”

Thiruvalluvar voices a boundlessly meaningful

value in life through these verses.

A timely favour, however trivial

Its material value is, is invaluable. (Kural 102)

“Help tendered when it was in urgent need,

however small,
Is considered as the greatest in the world.”

We should recommence on a new lease

of life gratefully recalling the gifts with which

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

God has graced our life though inconsequential

and trivial they may seem. Our life is nothing
but a tremendous course of uncountable
blessings from the Almighty. We should feel
ashamed to think how ungrateful we are to be
so ungenerously forgetful.

We should deem it our Dharma, our duty,

to be thankful to our parents and teachers. It
was through the mother we knew our father and
it was our father who handed us to our teacher
and the teacher in his turn revealed the almighty
God to us initiating us into a world of goodness.
We will be judged unworthy of a life on earth if
we are ungrateful to forget them all.

We are bound by conscience to be

obliged and grateful to all our friends, fellow
creatures and everything on earth living or dead.
Everything we enjoy in our life, including the air
we breathe, a secure life and the other countless
blessings of this universe are showered on us
through the hard work and prayers of many.

It is not right to forget the help rendered by

someone, it is virtuous
To forget any harm, the moment it is done.
(Kural 108)
“The law of Dharma warrant that we should not
forget

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

The help whereas the vices should be forgotten

the same day”

This kural resonates the noble principle

that we should never forget the kind deeds and
goodness of others while we are cautioned to
forget their malice and wicked deeds.

It so happens that the inequities of others

towards us tend to leave us sleepless because
we fail to forget and erase them from our mind.
We should teach ouselves to be generous enough
to forgive them thinking that they were driven
to such base deeds by dire circumstances. We
should unburden our minds by forgiving and
forgetting those who wounded us. Forgiving is
forgetting also, but the truth is that we make
a show of gracious forgiveness without really
forgetting. The greatness of God is that when
He forgives our iniquities, He forgets them also.
Same is the case with our parents also. They
never hurt us by reminding us of our vices and
transgressions by unearthing them from the
oblivion of the past. We should try to learn the
noble lessons of forgiveness and live it out in
real life.

Ungratefulness is the greatest sin never to be

forgiven though we may be condoned of all other
petty iniquities.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

There is salvation for faltering on any virtue

But not for ingratitude. (Kural 110)

“Even those defying several moral values can

escape from Punishment, but not those who
forget the gratitude for the help enjoyed.”

It is dangerous even to keep company

with the ungrateful. An attitude of gratitude is
a precious jewel that adorns the wise and the
winners.

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 Chapter Six
Self Control

One day, during a journey, a car from the

opposite side lost its control and hit on my car
badly damaging it. Though there were damages
to the car, we were spared of any serious injury
and I sat in the car praising God. Instantly, there
was a mob that started accusing the man who
drove the other car. By the time, my driver and
the other friends with me at the time went out
and started an argument with the owner of the
other car. All the people who gathered around
joined in the row and strongly opined not to

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

let him get away scot-free. When I found that

things were getting out of control, I got out of
the car and tried to calm down all saying that
there was no use in wrangling as we could not
undo what had happened. It was then someone
among them made a strong comment: “You are
not upset because it is not your vehicle. You
need not to interfere in the matter. We will deal
it. We shouldn’t allow such fellows to go free.” I
knew that he was trying to ignore and keep me
away saying thus.

By the time people with me had said

something to him about me and seemed to be
bashful at having spoken to me the way he did.
He was apologetic and mumbled something to
appease me. He was about to leave the place
confessing that he said things because he didn’t
recognize me and pleaded not to feel bad about
his behavior. As he was about to quit, I tried to
share my reflections to him about the whole
incident very genially: “We are all people who
travel through the roads almost every day and
may make mistakes. It is human to err and
mishaps can happen to anyone. It was not
without reason that I kept myself from saying
anything when everyone was very harsh to that
man there in the middle of the road. I was just
trying to imagine myself in his position.” By

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

the time my friends were trying to talk it out

and settle the issue. The driver of the other car
willingly gave an amount to my driver to meet
the expenses of the repair and that resolved
everything.

I was a bit surprised when that overzealous

fellow who tried to snub me at the accident
spot called me. The man sounded somewhat
remorseful about his behavior and the way he
involved himself in the incident. He confessed
that what I had contented was still vexing his
mind. He said that he was a headload worker
and a busybody of sorts that it was a habit
of him to get involved in wrestles as we had
and felt uneasy if he did not have occasions
for frequent squabbles. He regretted that his
particular nature had occasioned many to incur
heavy losses and that he had hurt many with his
callous words. He confided that he had decided
stop all that and to turn over a new leaf.

We are such people who get involved in

unnecessary affairs and use uncouth words
that eventually poison our own mind and body.
It is an irony that we take pride in our power
to control great crowds, but fail miserably in
composing our minds and bringing it in our
control.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

“Guard the valuable asset of self-control

There is no better treasure than this in life.”
(122)

This beautiful verse of Thiruvalluvar shares

the lofty ideal that the habit of patient self-
control is something to be treasured to ennoble
our life. There is no other greater wealth on
earth that endows our life with strength and
integrity. Self-control is the most beautiful
ornament to any human being. This adornment
is certain to nurture us to grow into persons of
noble qualities.

Though we allow that it may not be

possible for us curb all our emotions and live
such a dedicated life, we should see that we
control our tongue at the least. Unless we do
so, the follies we commit with our tongue can
be disastrous to ourselves.

“Persons should be able restrain their tongues

at the least
Or else the foul words shall land them in
despair.” (127)

The sores inflicted on one by fire and its

impact on the mind of the person may heal in
the course of time, but the burns caused by
spiteful words will never heal. The wound will
remain hurting like smoldering coal.
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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

“The wound caused to one’s body by fire shall

heal
But sores caused by tongue shall never heal”
(129)

We should restrain ourselves from uttering

words that would make us regret in future. It
will not be wise to use words to persons before
whom we may have occasion to stand ashamed
of our arrogant and spiteful words. We should
try to live the noble values of self-control in
every walks of our life. We must nurture in us
such noble qualities and make the society speak
highly of us that our parents may take pride in.
Such endeavors will help us meterialise an age
of goodness dreamed and sung by Thiruvalluvar.

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 Chapter Seven

Attributes of Help in
Need

Chapter TwoIt is not uncommon to hear

people complaining about the negligence they
experienced from the dear and near in times of
emergencies and dare needs. Usually, one finds
comfort in the anticipated retaliation in the same
measure. Such people secretly swear, “There will
come an occasion when they will need me and I
will show them what it is to be deserted in times
of need.” There can be occasions when one is

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not invited to attend certain functions to which

the presence of other family folks and important
people around are sought fervently. The same
secret retributive spirit takes dominance: “I will
show him when I have ceremonies and festivities
at home.”

It is a pity to think that many of us

have only such small minds that are willing to
reciprocate only when we receive something. We
are good enough to give something to others
only when we are given something beforehand.
All the good deeds motivated in anticipation of
returns show nothing but our meanness. Nobility
is the name for the attitude that looks for the
needy around us and the helps rendered without
expecting anything in return. A deed becomes
a sacred activity when it is inspired by a desire
from the bottom of our hearts to be of help to
those who deserve it.

In the middle of these ruminations and

my attempt to write something on it, a little
surprise awaited me to rescue me out of my
dejection. A student of my college came to me
with a coupon for free lunch for a month. It was
gifted to her as a recognition for some sort of
academic excellence and she wanted to hand
over the coupon to someone who deserved it as

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

she felt that she was amply provide for by her

parents. One really needs a great mind to seek
out the destitute and hold them dear to us even
in the middle of our sorrows and happiness. The
tears of thankfulness welled up in the eyes of
the student who accepted it was the greatest
blessing that my generous student could ever
hope for.

Thiruvalluvar compares this attitude to do

goodness without expecting anything in return to
rainclouds. Using the analogy of a rain, Valluvar
sings that the clouds rain down when the earth
is parched and thirsts for water. The earth has
the rains because the clouds consider it a duty
to rain without expectations of rewards except,
perhaps, the happiness watching the greenness
that mantle the scorched terrains. Through his
verses Thiruvalluvar voices the grand notion
that the rain clouds are lessons to humanity in
selfless goodness.

“Just as rain does not expect any gratitude from

the subjects of the world
So does the help by noble persons carry no
expectations.” (211)

This earth does not do anything in return

for the rainclouds for the cool showers with

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

which they appease the famished lands. The

clouds do not expect anything from the earth
either, except that they consider it a duty, and
ply on with the contentment of a duty done.
Does any noble soul dream of rewards while
doing duties stirred by conscience?

Every night, by the time we wind up the

days affairs, we should have reason to peacefully
welcome a gentle sleep feeling happy about all
the good deeds we could accomplish during the
day. This is how our life is to be made meaningful
feeling the contentment of living for others.
What else one can hope to attain other than the
happiness that blesses our life thinking about
the smiles we caused to flutter in the middle of
despairs.

The people who can be considered as really

living a fuller life are those who do good deeds
to serve the society by helping the miserable
and the suffering ones. All the others are no
better than corpses except for the fact that they
breathe, speak and move about like animated
figures without a heart to feel.

“One lives a fuller life in compatible social service

Whereas those who do not are only corpses.”
(214)

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

This admonishing verse from Thiruvalluvar

sounds the absurdity of living a worthless life
by being no better than a burden to the earth.

Our love and services should be unconditional

and selfless. There is a verse in Quran that
illumines this noble sentiment: “Blessed are
those who provide food to the hungry only to
please God. They do not expect even a word
of gratitude in return.” The teachings of Jesus
Christ also affirm the same notion: “The grace
of God is showered only on those who serve the
hungry and the destitute, considering them as
one’s own brothers and sisters.”

Selfishness is a deadly disease that

breeds and thrives in adolescence and youth
without our knowing of its hold on us. Such
is its working that they involve only in matters
that benefit them and cast a cold eye on the
grievances of others as a world apart and remain
unconcerned and indifferent. The goodness of
the world demands us to change this attitude
that has become a part of our constitution. We
are uncertain of our future and the lease of life
we can enjoy on earth. One should endeavor
to do good and make the world praise us on
account of our virtuous deeds as long as we are
alive. Thiruvalluvar invites our attention to such

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

a vision of the world where goodness prevails.

A noble soul may grieve over the ill

fortunes lamenting his inability to serve the
needy as was his wont as a result of the decline
in wealth. They are not aggrieved because they
cannot enjoy the comforts of life as in times of
riches, but because their failing fortunes disable
them from doing good to others as in the past.
What hurt them are not the personal losses, but
their incompetence to do their duty to the poor.

“The kindly ones, in harder times, feel their

poverty
What gives them the greatest pain is that they
are unable to help others.” (219)

What is there nobler in life than making

life of its fuller meaning by doing good to the
needy around us as long as we live on earth?

Gita Says “You came empty handed, you

will leave empty handed. What is yours today,
belonged to someone else yesterday, and will
belong to someone else the day after tomorrow.
You are mistakenly enjoying the thought that
this is yours. It is this false happiness that is
the cause of your sorrows.”

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 Chapter Eight
Fame

There was once a good man who made a

living by ferrying people across the river. As time
passed, he grew old and was taken seriously
ill. Lying in his deathbed, he called his only
son and said, “My dear son, I will die soon. At
this moment, I have only on wish. You should
perpetuate my reputation, and do nothing to
dishonor the good name your father was able to
make.” The old man’s wife and everyone around
shed bitter tears as he breathed his parting

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

words.

Days after the death of the ferryman, his

wife called her son and reminded him of his
father’s last wish. He was a son good enough to
listen to his mother’s advice and followed suit.
He took to the occupation of his father, and plied
his work ferrying people with dedication as was
the wont of his father. Days and months marched
their way with the young man beating his oar
in his little boat. But, to his consternation, he
noticed that the good work he pursued did not
seem to have any enhancing effect upon the
good repute of his father.

The young man played a mischief by

stopping the boat a little away from the shore to
the annoyance of the people. They had to wade
knee-deep through the waters to get into and
out of the boat. The people could do nothing
other than enduring the pranks of this young
man, but they did it cursing him. They wondered
how such a good man’s son could behave in
such a damned way. With indignation towards
the young man, they spoke wistfully about his
father and his greatness as he had been good
in his ways all his life. They used to speak ill of
the son and such talks eventually reached his
mother. With a wounded conscience, she called

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

her son and reprimanded him: “My son, your

father wanted you to carry on his good name,
but what you do really besmirch his good repute.
Is this the way you have chosen to perpetuate
his memory.” The son’s reply was shockingly
funny: “Mother, though they have a very bad
opinion about me, they speak highly about my
father. My mischief makes my father a great
man in comparison.” Naturally, that mother
felt disconsolate and crestfallen at her son’s
conducts.

The above anecdote is in a way a tell tale

analogy of certain of our contemporary notions.
It is not uncommon to find men who are like
the son in the story. We find complacency in
making heroes of our forefathers even if it is
worked by making ourselves look wretched in
our ways. We should endeavor to bring glory
to our family and our folks by making ourselves
better persons. There is something ignominious
about the act of portraying oneself despicable
only to make others appear greater in the eyes
of people around.

There is nothing that abides in the world

than a glorious life that withstands the test of
time. All other worldly accomplishments will
perish in the rush of relentless time, but the

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

fame and good repute bequeathed by a noble

life is timeless and endures until the end of the
world.

“The reputation of persons considered as

greatest in the world
Shall be everlasting and can’t be erased” (233)

Real glory and good repute survive through

noble and sacrificial deeds. Our graciousness
and righteousness should be the tokens of
manifest goodness so that our parents and our
society will have reason to be proud of us. Such
are the words of Thiruvalluvar that they become
a spring of inspiration for those who aspire to
become better beings:

“If you are destined to be born, better be born

a man of good repute
If not, it is better not to be born at all.” (236)

If one is born on earth as a human being,

he should be born endowed with the traits that
make one glorious in life. If one is bereft of such
attributes, it is better not to have beeen born at
all. A man worthy to be called the name human
is the one who attains fame through good deeds.
If not, one is little better than a beast.

The word ‘image’ enters into conversations to

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express something striking about the character

and demeanor persons concerned. It is not
uncommon to hear people saying, “he or she
has a good image”. The word ‘image’ has been
variously defined to fit into contexts. ‘You in
your absence’ is a remarkable one when it is
used to refer to the impression one creates in
the society. Our true image or what we really
are to the people around is the judgment that
they make of us in our absence. That is how
we are impressed in the mind of people amidst
whom we live.

Our ways and deeds should be such that

our nonattendance should be noticed and it
should be registered by people with the good
things that would be aired even when we are
alive and not just a memory to be reminisced.
We should try to ennoble our life with deeds
worthy of being praised by others when we
are no more. If we fail in our life to bequeath
that priceless gift of glory to make ourselves
a name to be praised in our death and in the
times to come, we are certain to be scorned and
dishonored by people when we leave this world
behind.

Thiruvalluvar mercilessly condemns the

ones who die living a life that leaves nothing

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

to be praised. The land destined to receive

the mortal remains of persons who lived lives
unworthy of praises become arid and perishes
without yielding crops.

“The land that receives the mortal remains of

inglorious persons
Shall become ungenerous and arid yielding less
crops” (239)

Prophet Mohammed speaks of two kinds of

men: The first group makes the noble ones who
keep themselves away from the worldly affairs
and die seeking refuge in the grace of God. The
ones who belong to the second are the worst.
When they die, the people around them consider
it a relief from an evil influence and they feel
secure of a dreadful presence.

The people who live an unstained life,

giving no chance to be spoken ill of are the
ones who really live while the others just exist.
We should be desirous of conquering new
horizons of kindness and boundless goodness.
We should strive to live a life leaving footprints
that chronicle the tale of a gracious living.

Holy Bible says “Do to others whatever you

would like them to do to you.” (Mathew 7:12)

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 Chapter Nine

Anger

Very often we hear people saying, “Don’t
try to irritate me. I am very bad when I am
enraged”. Remarks of the sorts seem to say
that such people are not angry by nature, but it
is the others around who make them angry. In
fact, anger is a negative quality unbecoming of
a gentleman. Whatever be situation, we must
be able to bring our mind under control. Men
of gentle behavior rarely attach themselves
to people who are easily angered. Cruelty and

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anger usually blot out other noble qualities

innate in most people. Anger can be perilous
even to the extent of being hazardous to life
also.
Composure is the quality of a noble soul
who restrains himself from being enraged where
his adversary is a weakling and defenseless.
Whereas, it is no valor if one is self restrained
where his anger is futile as the opponent is
dominant.

“Restraining anger against ones who cannot

defend is real restraint. What matters if you
forbear or not where it will not work?” (301)

The above quoted kural divulges the

message that self restrain is one of the greatest
qualities appreciated in man. One’s anger will
work where the adversary is a humble or a lowly
person in stature and power and one’s nobility is
revealed by being gentle towards the weak and
the meek. The consequences our antagonism
and disputatiousness towards the mighty will
have a natural and earthly ending if we are
prepared to endure and bear their wrath, but
our anger towards the weak and lowly will bring
on us the wrath of God; it is a sin that will make
us accursed not just in this life, but in the life
after also.

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 The Wisdom of Thirukkural

Do you know the one who is the strongest among

you? It is not the one who proves his strength is
a wrestle, but the one who can control his mind
when one is angered. Thiruvalluvar passes on
this message through one of his kurals:

“Get rid of futile anger in any case

For from anger springs a multitude of evils”.
(303)

Everyone should endeavor not to be swayed by

anger in one’s dealings and demeanor towards
everyone irrespective of the social and economic
status of the people with whom we interact.
Whatever be the circumstances, anger can breed
only evil effects.

There are quick-tempered people around

us who are readily excited to impatience or
anger. The society looks down on such people
with contempt as trivial and inconsequential
ones. Very rarely such people find someone
to love them sincerely. There will be a rush of
adrenaline when we are angry, and this can have
a weakening effect on our body. Considering
that anger can have damaging effects even on
our body, we should be careful to fight such
drives of anger on unguarded moments. As an
evil emotion, we should learn to control anger

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that has little benefits while we may lose even

bosom friends as a result of unnecessary anger.

Valluvar observes that anger wipes away the

smile and cheerfulness that adorn one’s face,
and it ruins our peace of mind. There cannot be
any greater enemy than anger as it makes us
downcast and dispirited. “There is no greater foe
than ireful wrath that kills the smile and cheer
on your face” (304)

Anger is like the consuming fire that burns

the ones who are dear and close to us. Initially
anger immolates ourselves, and ,then in turn,
it burns to ashes all those who serve us as our
helpers and saviours by giving proper guidance
and advises that will help us cross the mighty
and perilous ocean of life. While fire burns
only those who get close to it, the fire of anger
incinerates all the dear ones around the one who
gets angry.

“Anger destroys everyone who approaches it

It consumes also the barge of kith and kin who
nurses it”.

To be devoid of anger is a noble quality

that helps one to reach great heights in life.
What meaning is there in living a life that hosts
nothing but anger and strife, a life that breeds

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only hatred and malice?

Even if one is constrained to be angry by

the pressure of circumstances, reason solicits
us to be remorseful and regretting. Repentance
drives us to be more careful in the future, and
it is a mark of the discerning men. To lead a
peaceful life, Thiruvalluvar suggests a life totally
detached from all the persuasions of anger. Such
an emotional state is a prime requisite for the
realization of our dreams and the attainment of
true wisdom.

Bhagavad Gita 16.21. Lust, anger and

greed are three gates leading to the hell. Every
sane man should give these up, for they lead to
the degradation of the soul.

Spoken word is no less a menace than all

consuming fire. The perils it works cannot be
expunged very easily. Our words should never
be the cause of bitter tears in the lives of others
around us. We have no right to spoil the tranquil
lives of the people close to us with our words.

The paramount goal of our existence

should be an effort to capture that elusive goal
of a life saturated with humility, discernment
and compromising spirit that seeks harmony in
a world totally in disarray.

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 Chapter Ten
Envy and Slander

When there is a power failure at home,

the first thing we do will be to peep out at our
neighbors’ house to assure that we are not the
only victim. We are likely to feel miserable if the
neighborhood is flooded in bright lights, and we
happen to be the only dark island suffering from
power shortage. This is not a response in the case
of electricity failure alone, but a temperament
that permeates our personal and societal
mindset. We are inclined to be despondent at

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the welfare and achievements of others while we

enjoy a rapture of secret excitement at the woes
and afflictions of others. This abhorrent attitude
is the vital undercurrent of envy and jealousy.
It is natural to be celebrant at the successes of
our children, but it should also seem dutiful to
be tolerant enough to understand that there are
others who are aggrieved at their debacles and
failure in accomplishing anything great. Envy
can be hazardous to the extent of damaging
one’s efficiency in becoming an enterprising
person and scaling great heights. There is no
greater vice other than being envious of others
in their achievements.

A person who leads a righteous and

honorable life anchored in peace should expunge
himself of envy, one of the vilest of all loathsome
personal attributes, and be the carrier of an
undefiled mind. This is what Valluvar requires
of all who long to be reckoned as the righteous
in any society.

“Know that your heart is inclining towards virtue

When you find that it is free from all feelings of
envy”. (161)
One’s heart should be so grateful that all
the blessings and gains like riches, prosperity
and learning that come as gifts of God should

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disturb one by making us humble with gratitude.

It is certain that envy will drive us towards our
destruction. Prophet Mohammed reminds that
envy gnaws us as fire devours the firewood.

Thiruvalluvar observes that the noblest

of all the traits of a meritorious life is the
attainment of a mindset and disposition where a
soul is devoid of all envious elements in thought
and action.

Envy, the worst of all sins, can be

ruinous to any man who carries it about him by
plundering all his prosperity, and it drives him
to the damnation of eternal hell.

“Despicable envy spoils good wealth

And drowns one in the whirlpool of hell.” (168)

A person should find happiness in the

fortunes, which grace him, thinking that they
are the blessings of God. God has showered
us with blessings plenteous enough to cause
jealousy in others. What one should do is to find
happiness in the bounties that God has gifted us
with, and seek the potencies in them to reach
great heights.

If envy is one of the worst of all vices, slandering

is no less vicious a habit. Slandering is the habit

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of disparaging and speaking ill of a person in his

absence. It cannot be gainsaid that slander is
a most wretched and hideous trait of all human
natures.

“Though one does not profess virtues, but be

iniquitous
Still abstains from slander is good.” (181)

Even if one were to defy all moral principles

and be wicked in his ways, he can still be called
good if he chooses to refrain from speaking ill of
others in their absence. Abstention from slander
is so good a virtue that it can efface a man’s
iniquities though countless they are.

It has become very common among

us to speak ill of others so much so that we
enjoy it, and celebrate it in our gatherings. We
should be sensible enough to discern that we
can be the victim while we are absent in the
gathering. Be sure that the man who speaks to
us disparagingly about others in their absence
will do the same about us also.

Hypocrites and double dealers are in

plenty these days that we are certain to find
many who will try please us with a wide smile,
but ready to backbite the moment we are away.
Thirukkural is very eloquent in criticizing such

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dispositions.

“It is worthier to die than living by lying and

slander
For such death brings with it the fruits of
righteousness.” (183)

There is a virtue in embracing death than

living a fraudulent life by praising people in their
company and speaking ill of the selfsame people
in their absence.

The people who invite the dislike and

detestation of others by being envious and
slandering in disposition are really cowards.
Such people are the ones whose lives are driven
by satanic impulses. Righteousness appeals us
to behave discretely by quietly drawing attention
to the failings of the ones whom we love; we
should do this by pointing out their mistakes
personally while no one is around. “Can anything
evil befall a man in his life if he can scan his own
faults on par with those of others.” (190)

There will be no sorrow in the life of

good people who are willing to correct their
own mistakes and wrongdoings, and lead a life
of righteousness thinking that the failings of
others are no worse than their own faults and
transgressions.

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