Kural #312
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
அறிவினான் ஆகுவ துண்டோ
பிறிதின்நோய் தந்நோய்போல் போற்றாக் கடை
Aṟiviṉāṉ ākuva tuṇṭō
Piṟitiṉnōy taṉnōypōl pōṟṟāk kaṭai
English translation
What use is intelligence if one does not regard the suffering of others as one's own?
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Explanation
True intelligence includes empathy. If a person cannot feel others' pain as their own, their knowledge is worthless. This is the foundation of compassion - recognizing the universality of suffering.
விளக்கம்
பிறர் துன்பத்தைத் தன் துன்பம் போல் எண்ணாவிட்டால், அறிவினால் என்ன பயன்? பிறருக்குத் தீங்கு செய்யாமல் இருப்பது முக்கியம். இதுவே "இன்னா செய்யாமை" அதிகாரத்தின் கருத்து. இரக்கமே சிறந்த அறிவு.
Word meanings
- அறிவினான்aṟiviṉāṉfrom intelligence
- ஆகுவதுākuvatuwhat becomes/use
- உண்டோuṇṭōis there?
- பிறிதின்piṟitiṉof others
- நோய்nōysuffering/pain
- தன்taṉone's own
- போல்pōllike
- போற்றாpōṟṟānot regarding
- கடைkaṭaiwhen/if
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun was known for his sharp mind; he could solve any riddle and predict the weather with uncanny accuracy. Bala, however, possessed a gentle heart. One harsh winter, a severe illness swept through the village. Many fell sick, including a poor weaver whose loom was his only livelihood. Arun, using his knowledge, devised a complex herbal remedy, which he sold at a high price, accumulating wealth while the weaver starved. Bala, seeing the weaver’s plight, offered him his own food and helped repair the broken loom, even though it meant he would have less. He stayed by the weaver's side, sharing stories and comfort. As spring arrived, the village recovered. The weaver, strengthened by Bala's kindness, began to work again. Arun, wealthy but isolated, found his knowledge offered him little comfort. He observed Bala and the weaver, their faces alight with joy, and felt a strange emptiness within himself.