Kural #400
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Tamil text
கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் கல்வி
ஒருவற்கு மாடல்ல மற்றை யவை
Kēṭil viḻuccelvam kalvi
Oruvaṟku māṭalla maṟṟai yavai
English translation
Learning is the imperishable, excellent wealth; all other things are not true wealth.
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Explanation
The chapter concludes with a resounding declaration: கல்வி alone is கேடில் விழுச்செல்வம் (imperishable, excellent wealth). All மற்றையவை (other possessions) are not மாடு (true wealth). This 400th kural perfectly caps the education chapter.
விளக்கம்
கல்வியே அழியாத செல்வம். அது ஒருவருக்கு உண்மையான சொத்து. மற்ற செல்வங்கள் நிலையற்றவை. கல்வி அதிகாரத்தின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது காட்டுகிறது.
Word meanings
- கேடுkēṭudestruction
- இல்ilwithout
- விழுviḻuexcellent
- செல்வம்celvamwealth
- கல்விkalvilearning
- ஒருவற்குoruvaṟkufor a person
- மாடுmāṭutrue wealth
- அல்லallaare not
- மற்றையவைmaṟṟaiyavaiother things
Story behind this kural
In a village nestled beside a whispering forest lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun inherited a vast rice field, the envy of the village. Bala, however, spent his days learning from the village sage, poring over ancient texts. Years passed. A terrible drought struck. Arun’s rice withered, his granaries emptied. He was left with nothing. Despair clouded his face. Bala, meanwhile, used his knowledge of irrigation and crop rotation, learned from the old texts, to cultivate a small plot of land that yielded a surprising harvest. He shared his knowledge, helping others. When the rains finally returned, Arun, humbled, sought Bala’s help. Bala, with a smile, taught his brother the ways of the land, sharing his knowledge freely. Arun, in turn, learned a new way of life. The village thrived once more, guided by the wisdom of the learned brother.