Kural #358
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Tamil text
பிறப்பென்னும் பேதைமை நீங்கச்
சிறப்பென்னும் செம்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு
Piṟappeṉṉum pētaimai nīṅkac
Ciṟappeṉṉum cemporuḷ kāṇpatu aṟivu
English translation
True wisdom is seeing the supreme truth that removes the ignorance called birth.
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Explanation
Birth itself is described as பேதைமை (ignorance/folly). Wisdom means perceiving the செம்பொருள் (pure truth) that eliminates the very cause of rebirth. Liberation is the fruit of true knowledge.
விளக்கம்
பிறப்பு ஒரு அறியாமை. அந்த அறியாமையை நீக்கி, உயர்ந்த உண்மையை உணர்வதே அறிவு. மெய்யுணர்தல் அதிகாரத்தில், பிறவா நிலையை அடைவதே சிறந்த ஞானம் என்று வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார்.
Word meanings
- பிறப்புpiṟappubirth
- என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
- பேதைமைpētaimaiignorance/folly
- நீங்கnīṅkato remove
- சிறப்புciṟappuexcellence
- செம்பொருள்cemporuḷpure/supreme truth
- காண்பதுkāṇpatuseeing
- அறிவுaṟivuwisdom
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two woodcutters, Arun and Bala. Arun toiled relentlessly, felling trees to build bigger houses, always seeking more wealth. Bala, however, found contentment in his simple hut, spending his days observing the forest's rhythm. One harsh winter, a severe famine struck. Arun, despite his large storehouse, found his possessions worthless as people starved. He saw the suffering, the desperation, the endless cycle of need. Bala, sharing his meager food and offering comfort, remained peaceful. He understood the impermanence of all things, the fleeting nature of possessions. When spring arrived, bringing renewal, Arun’s wealth was diminished. He watched Bala, his face lit with a quiet joy, tending a small garden, offering help to others. Arun realized the futility of chasing fleeting things and the lasting value of seeing beyond the immediate, understanding the deeper truths of life.