Kural #409
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Tamil text
மேற்பிறந்தா ராயினும் கல்லாதார்
கீழ்ப்பிறந்தும் கற்றார் அனைத்திலர் பாடு
Mēṟpiṟantā rāyiṉum kallātār
Kīḻppiṟantum kaṟṟār aṉaittilar pāṭu
English translation
The unlearned, though born high, are not equal in worth to the learned, though born low.
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Explanation
Birth and caste mean nothing compared to education. A person of high birth who remains ignorant is inferior to a person of low birth who acquires knowledge. Learning is the true measure of a person.
விளக்கம்
கற்றறியாதவர் உயர்ந்த குடியில் பிறந்தாலும், கற்றவர் தாழ்ந்த குடியில் பிறந்தாலும் கற்றவரின் பெருமைக்கே ஈடாக மாட்டார். கல்லாமை அதிகாரத்தில், கல்விதான் ஒருவரின் மதிப்பை உயர்த்தும் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் வலியுறுத்துகிறார். படிப்புதான் முக்கியம், பிறப்பல்ல.
Word meanings
- மேல்mēlhigh/upper
- பிறந்தாராயினும்piṟantārāyiṉumeven if born
- கல்லாதார்kallātārthe unlearned
- கீழ்kīḻlow/lower
- பிறந்தும்piṟantumeven if born
- கற்றார்kaṟṟārthe learned
- அனைத்துaṉaittuthat much
- இலர்ilardo not have
- பாடுpāṭuworth/status
Story behind this kural
In a humble village nestled beside a grand kingdom, lived two young men. Prince Kael, born to royalty, possessed every luxury but little interest in learning. He spent his days in frivolous pursuits. Across the village, Kumar, the son of a potter, toiled diligently, yet his mind was sharp and eager. He spent every spare moment with the village sage, absorbing wisdom. One day, a complex engineering problem arose, threatening the kingdom's water supply. The King summoned his advisors, including Prince Kael, who offered foolish suggestions. Kumar, overhearing the discussions, stepped forward. He proposed a solution, born from his studies of mathematics and hydraulics. His plan was ingenious, and the problem was solved. The kingdom rejoiced, praising Kumar's brilliance. Prince Kael, though born to rule, could only watch, realizing the true measure of worth lay not in lineage, but in the knowledge one possessed.