Kural #140
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Tamil text
உலகத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல்
பலகற்றும் கல்லார் அறிவிலா தார்
Ulakattōṭu oṭṭa oḻukal
Palakaṟṟum kallār aṟivilā tār
English translation
Those who do not learn to conduct themselves in harmony with the world are ignorant, no matter how much else they have studied.
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Explanation
This closing kural defines true education. One may study many subjects (பலகற்றும்), but if they cannot live harmoniously with others (உலகத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல்), they remain ignorant. Social wisdom is the ultimate learning.
விளக்கம்
உலகத்தோடு சேர்ந்து வாழும் முறையை அறியாதவர், எவ்வளவோ கற்றாலும் அறிவில்லாதவரே. ஒழுக்கமுடைமை அதிகாரத்தில் இது முக்கியம். சமூகத்தோடு இணக்கமாக வாழ்வதே சிறந்த கல்வி.
Word meanings
- உலகத்தோடுulakattōṭuwith the world
- ஒட்டoṭṭain harmony
- ஒழுகல்oḻukalto conduct oneself
- பலpalamany things
- கற்றும்kaṟṟumeven having learned
- கல்லார்kallārhave not learned
- அறிவிலாதார்aṟivilātārthe ignorant
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering river lived two scholars. Both were learned men, fluent in the ancient texts. One, Elan, spent his days poring over scrolls, dissecting complex philosophies. He could quote every verse, yet often stumbled in the marketplace, bumping into villagers and grumbling apologies. The other, Arul, was equally well-read. But Arul spent his evenings sharing stories with the children, helping farmers mend fences, and listening patiently to the woes of the elderly. He treated everyone with respect. One day, a great storm threatened the village. Elan, lost in his books, was oblivious. Arul, however, organized the villagers, securing homes and livestock. When the storm passed, Elan's house lay in ruins. Arul, with the help of the community, rebuilt it. Elan finally understood the true measure of knowledge.