Kural #22
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Tamil text
துறந்தார் பெருமை துணைக்கூறின் வையத்து
இறந்தாரை எண்ணிக்கொண் டற்று
Tuṟantār perumai tuṇaikkūṟiṉ vaiyattu
Iṟantārai eṇṇikkoṇ ṭaṟṟu
English translation
To describe the greatness of renunciates in full is like trying to count all who have died on earth.
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Explanation
Valluvar uses a powerful comparison here. Just as it is impossible to count every person who has ever died on this earth, it is equally impossible to fully describe or measure the greatness of those who have truly renounced worldly attachments. Their virtue and spiritual attainment are beyond measure.
விளக்கம்
துறந்தவர்களின் பெருமையை முழுமையாகச் சொல்லுவது, உலகில் இறந்தவர்களை எண்ணுவது போல முடியாத காரியம். "நீத்தார் பெருமை" அதிகாரத்தில், பற்றுகளை விட்டொழித்தவர்களின் மேன்மையை அளவிட முடியாது என்பதே கருத்து. அவர்களின் தியாகமும், ஆன்மீக உயர்வும் எல்லையில்லாதது.
Word meanings
- துறந்தார்tuṟantārthose who renounced
- பெருமைperumaigreatness
- துணைக்கூறின்tuṇaikkūṟiṉif one were to describe in parts
- வையத்துvaiyattuin this world
- இறந்தாரைiṟantāraithose who died
- எண்ணிக்கொண்டற்றுeṇṇikkoṇṭaṟṟulike counting
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a wise old woman named Elara. Villagers often sought her counsel, but she rarely spoke of her own life. One day, a curious merchant, eager to understand her wisdom, offered her a mountain of gold if she would reveal the secret of her peace. Elara smiled gently and said, “Come, let us walk the forest.” They wandered for hours, the merchant peppering her with questions. She answered simply, pointing out the beauty of a wildflower, the strength of an old oak, the intricate dance of sunlight on leaves. Finally, exhausted, the merchant slumped against a tree. "I still don't understand!" he cried. "What is the secret?" Elara gestured to the vast forest. "Could you count every leaf on every tree? Could you measure the depth of the earth's quiet?" The merchant, humbled, looked at the impossible task, understanding dawning in his eyes.