Kural #392
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Tamil text
எண்ணென்ப ஏனை எழுத்தென்ப
இவ்விரண்டும் கண்ணென்ப வாழும் உயிர்க்கு
Eṇṇeṉpa ēṉai eḻutteṉpa
Ivviraṇṭum kaṇṇeṉpa vāḻum uyirkku
English translation
Numbers and letters are said to be the two eyes of all living beings.
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Explanation
A beautiful metaphor: எண் (numbers/mathematics) and எழுத்து (letters/literacy) are compared to the two கண் (eyes). Just as two eyes give depth perception, numeracy and literacy together provide complete vision of life.
விளக்கம்
எண், எழுத்து ரெண்டும் உயிருக்குக் கண்கள் மாதிரி. கல்வி அதிகாரத்துல இது வருது. கணக்குப் படிச்சும், எழுதப் படிச்சும் வாழும் வாழ்க்கை தெளிவா இருக்கும். இதுதான் இந்தக் குறளோட கருத்து.
Word meanings
- எண்eṇnumbers
- என்பeṉpathey say
- ஏனைēṉaiand other
- எழுத்துeḻuttuletters
- இவ்விரண்டும்ivviraṇṭumthese two
- கண்kaṇeyes
- வாழும்vāḻumliving
- உயிர்க்குuyirkkufor beings
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, a strong farmer, knew the land and the seasons, but could barely read the market prices. Bala, a clever merchant, could count coins and write contracts, yet struggled to understand the rhythms of the earth. One harsh winter, a severe frost threatened the village's crops. Arun, though skilled at farming, couldn't calculate the precise amount of grain needed to feed everyone until the next harvest. Bala, using his writing skills, tried to secure loans, but without understanding the farmer's plight, offered unfair terms. The villagers faced starvation. Then, an old woman, wise in both farming and numbers, stepped forward. She helped Arun estimate the harvest and guided Bala to write fair agreements. Together, they saved the village.