Kural #68
Last reviewed:
Tamil text
தம்மின்தம் மக்கள் அறிவுடைமை
மாநிலத்து மன்னுயிர்க் கெல்லாம் இனிது
Tammiṉtam makkaḷ aṟivuṭaimai
Mānilattu maṉṉuyirk kellām iṉitu
English translation
When their children surpass them in wisdom, it is a delight to all living beings on this great earth.
Listen
Explanation
This kural expands the joy of children's excellence beyond the family. When children become wiser than their parents (தம்மின் - than themselves), it brings joy not just to the parents but to all of humanity (மன்னுயிர்க்கு எல்லாம்). This reflects the Tamil belief that a wise person benefits the entire community, not just their family.
விளக்கம்
தம் பிள்ளைகள் தம்மை விட அறிவில் சிறந்தால், அது இவ்வுலகில் உள்ள எல்லோருக்கும் மகிழ்ச்சி தரும். மக்கட்பேறு அதிகாரத்தில், குழந்தைகள் மேன்மை சமூகத்திற்கு நன்மை பயக்கும் என்பதை வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். அறிவுடைய பிள்ளைகள் உலகிற்கு இனிமை சேர்ப்பர்.
Word meanings
- தம்மின்tammiṉthan themselves
- தம்tamtheir own
- மக்கள்makkaḷchildren
- அறிவுடைமைaṟivuṭaimaipossessing wisdom
- மாmāgreat
- நிலத்துnilattuon the earth
- மன்maṉpermanent/all
- உயிர்க்குuyirkkuto living beings
- எல்லாம்ellāmall
- இனிதுiṉituis sweet/delightful
Story behind this kural
In a small village nestled beside a whispering forest, lived an elderly carpenter named Thiru. He was known for crafting sturdy, reliable carts. His son, Arul, apprenticed under him, learning the trade. Thiru taught Arul every trick he knew, from selecting the finest wood to shaping the wheels. One day, a wealthy merchant requested a cart unlike any other – one that could traverse the rocky mountain pass. Thiru toiled for weeks, but the design proved too complex. Frustrated, he turned to Arul. Arul, having studied the principles of leverage and balance, proposed a radical new wheel design, incorporating a suspension system. The cart, built according to Arul’s plan, not only conquered the mountain pass but also carried its cargo with unprecedented ease. The merchant, amazed, declared the cart a marvel, and soon, Arul's innovative design became the standard throughout the land. Thiru, watching his son's success, felt a joy that surpassed any achievement of his own. The entire village benefited from Arul's wisdom, as trade flourished and life became easier for everyone.