Kural #397
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Tamil text
யாதானும் நாடாமால் ஊராமால்
என்னொருவன் சாந்துணையுங் கல்லாத வாறு
Yātāṉum nāṭāmāl ūrāmāl
Eṉṉoruvaṉ cāntuṇaiyuṅ kallāta vāṟu
English translation
Why does one not learn until death, when learning makes any country or town one's own?
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Explanation
Education is the universal passport: any நாடு (country) or ஊர் (town) becomes home for the learned. Why then not learn சாகும் துணையும் (until death)? Lifelong learning should be natural.
விளக்கம்
கல்வி ஒருவருக்கு எந்த தேசத்தையும் சொந்தமாக்கும். சாகும் வரை கற்கும் ஒருவனுக்கு எங்கும் மதிப்பு கிடைக்கும். கல்வி அதிகாரத்தின் கருப்பொருளே இது. ஆகவே, இறுதிவரை கற்க வேண்டும்.
Word meanings
- யாதானும்yātāṉumwhichever
- நாடுnāṭucountry
- ஆமால்āmālbecomes one's own
- ஊர்ūrtown
- என்eṉwhy
- ஒருவன்oruvaṉa person
- சாம்துணையும்cāmtuṇaiyumuntil death
- கல்லாதkallātadoes not learn
- வாறுvāṟuway
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a vast forest lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun, content with his father’s farm, saw little need for books. Bala, however, devoured every scroll he could find, eager to learn of distant lands and forgotten lore. When a harsh drought struck, the villagers struggled. Arun, bound to his barren fields, despaired. Bala, remembering tales of fertile lands across the sea, recalled the route to a prosperous kingdom. He used his knowledge of navigation and languages to guide a small band of villagers. They arrived in the kingdom, where Bala's knowledge of agriculture impressed the King. He secured land and resources for his people. Arun, humbled, saw how Bala, through continuous learning, had not only saved their village but found a new home for them all. He realized the world was vast, and the doors to it, were opened by the keys of knowledge.