Kural #503
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Tamil text
அரியகற்று ஆசற்றார் கண்ணும்
தெரியுங்கால் இன்மை அரிதே வெளிறு
Ariyakaṟṟu ācaṟṟār kaṇṇum
Teriyuṅkāl iṉmai aritē veḷiṟu
English translation
Even among those who have learned rare knowledge and are free from desire, it is rare to find one without some weakness when examined.
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Explanation
This kural teaches humility in assessment. Even highly educated and seemingly desireless individuals will have some flaw (வெளிறு) upon careful examination. Perfect beings are extremely rare; we must accept some imperfection.
விளக்கம்
அரிய நூல்களைக் கற்ற, ஆசையில்லாதவர்களிடமும் குறை இருக்க வாய்ப்புண்டு. நன்கு ஆராய்ந்தால், சிறு தவறாவது இருக்கும். "தெரிந்து தெளிதல்" அதிகாரத்தில், யாரையும் முழுமையாக நம்பாமல் ஆராய்ந்து பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்பதே நீதி.
Word meanings
- அரியariyarare/difficult
- கற்றுkaṟṟuhaving learned
- ஆசுācudesire
- அற்றார்aṟṟārthose without
- கண்ணும்kaṇṇumeven among
- தெரியுங்கால்teriyuṅkālwhen examined
- இன்மைiṉmaiabsence
- அரிதேaritēis rare indeed
- வெளிறுveḷiṟuweakness/flaw
Story behind this kural
The village elder, Thiru, was renowned for his wisdom. People traveled from far and wide to hear his counsel. His words were like cool water, quenching the thirst of troubled minds. He possessed knowledge of the stars, the earth, and the human heart. One day, a young merchant, eager to impress, challenged Thiru. "You are wise, yes," he declared, "but surely even you have some fault?" Thiru smiled, "Perhaps. Let us see." The merchant then tested Thiru with complex riddles, philosophical debates, and practical problems. Thiru answered each with grace and insight. The crowd murmured their admiration. Finally, the merchant, frustrated, presented a situation involving a dishonest business deal, designed to trap the unwary. Thiru, after a moment, offered a solution. But the merchant pointed out a minor detail, a tiny oversight. A small, almost imperceptible flaw. Thiru acknowledged it. A gentle smile touched his lips. Even the most luminous star casts a shadow.