Kural #393
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Tamil text
கண்ணுடையர் என்பவர் கற்றோர்
முகத்திரண்டு புண்ணுடையர் கல்லா தவர்
Kaṇṇuṭaiyar eṉpavar kaṟṟōr
Mukattiraṇṭu puṇṇuṭaiyar kallā tavar
English translation
The learned are said to have eyes; the unlearned have only two wounds on their face.
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Explanation
A striking metaphor: educated people have true கண் (eyes) that see reality. The uneducated have only two புண் (wounds/sores) on their face - physically present eyes that cannot truly perceive.
விளக்கம்
கற்றவரே கண்ணுடையோர்; அவர்கள் அறிவால் உலகைப் பார்ப்பர். கல்லாதவர் முகத்தில் புண்ணுடையவர் போன்றவர். கல்வி அதிகாரத்தில், கல்வி அறிவே சிறந்த செல்வம் என்பதை இது காட்டுகிறது. அறிவில்லாத வாழ்க்கை பயனற்றது.
Word meanings
- கண்kaṇeyes
- உடையர்uṭaiyarthose who have
- என்பவர்eṉpavarare called
- கற்றோர்kaṟṟōrthe learned
- முகத்துmukattuon the face
- இரண்டுiraṇṭutwo
- புண்puṇwounds
- கல்லாதவர்kallātavarthe unlearned
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, a diligent student, spent his days poring over scrolls, while Bala preferred the sun and the fields. One day, a fierce storm raged, tearing through the village. Arun, recalling his lessons on weather patterns, predicted the storm's path and urged the villagers to seek shelter. They listened, and their homes were spared. Bala, however, dismissed the warnings. He scoffed at his brother's "bookish nonsense," certain his strong arms and familiarity with the land would protect him. The storm caught him unawares. He scrambled to save his meager belongings, but the wind and rain destroyed his harvest. After the storm passed, Arun helped rebuild the village, using his knowledge to design stronger structures. Bala, battered and disheartened, could only watch, his face etched with regret as he realized the true nature of seeing.