Kural #2
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Tamil text
கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல்
வாலறிவன் நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்
Kaṟṟataṉāl āya payaṉeṉkol
Vālaṟivaṉ naṟṟāḷ toḻāar eṉiṉ
English translation
What is the use of all learning, if one does not worship the sacred feet of the One who possesses pure wisdom?
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Explanation
This kural emphasizes that true education must include spiritual awareness. Thiruvalluvar asks a pointed rhetorical question - no matter how much knowledge one accumulates, without reverence for the Divine source of all wisdom, that learning remains incomplete.
விளக்கம்
வாலறிவன் திருவடியை வணங்காத கல்வி பயனற்றது. கடவுள் வாழ்த்தில் வள்ளுவர் இதைச் சொல்வது, கல்வி இறைவனை உணர உதவும் என்பதே. இறைவனைத் தொழுவதே கல்வியின் முக்கிய நோக்கம்.
Word meanings
- கற்றதனால்kaṟṟataṉālby learning/from what is learned
- ஆயāyathat comes/resulting
- பயன்payaṉbenefit/use
- என்கொல்eṉkolwhat is it? (rhetorical)
- வாலறிவன்vālaṟivaṉthe One of pure wisdom (God)
- நல்nalgood/sacred
- தாள்tāḷfeet
- தொழாஅர்toḻāardo not worship
- எனின்eṉiṉif
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two scholars. Both were renowned for their vast knowledge, debating philosophy and reciting ancient texts. One, named Arul, possessed a sharp mind and a biting wit. The other, Selvan, was kind and humble, often seen meditating beneath the old banyan tree. One day, a great drought struck the land. Arul, confident in his learning, devised complex irrigation systems, but they failed. Selvan, however, simply prayed, offering gratitude for the sun and the rain. Soon, a gentle shower fell, then another, and the village flourished. Arul, bewildered, approached Selvan. "How did you succeed where I failed?" he asked. Selvan smiled, pointing to the sky. "I simply remembered where all blessings truly come from." The villagers, witnessing this, understood the true source of prosperity. They saw that wisdom and intellect, without reverence, were like a dry well.