Kural #8
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Tamil text
அறவாழி அந்தணன் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால்
பிறவாழி நீந்தல் அரிது
Aṟavāḻi antaṇaṉ tāḷcērntārk kallāl
Piṟavāḻi nīntal aritu
English translation
Except for those who embrace the feet of the Pure One (who is an ocean of virtue), it is difficult to swim across the ocean of births.
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Explanation
Two beautiful ocean metaphors are used here. God is an ocean of virtue - vast and deep in righteousness. Life's cycle of births and deaths is another ocean that must be crossed. Only by taking refuge in the Divine can one navigate this challenging journey.
விளக்கம்
அறக்கடலான கடவுளின் திருவடியை அடைந்தவர்க்கே பிறவிக்கடலை நீந்திக் கடப்பது எளிது. கடவுள் வாழ்த்து அதிகாரத்தில், இறைவனைச் சரணடைவதே பிறவித் துன்பத்திலிருந்து விடுபட வழி என வள்ளுவர் கூறுகிறார். நல்வழி நடக்க இறைவனின் அருள் துணை செய்யும்.
Word meanings
- அறaṟavirtue/dharma
- ஆழிāḻiocean/sea
- அந்தணன்antaṇaṉthe Pure One (one of inner coolness)
- தாள்tāḷfeet
- சேர்ந்தார்க்குcērntārkkufor those who embrace
- அல்லால்allālexcept
- பிறpiṟaof birth
- நீந்தல்nīntalto swim across
- அரிதுarituis difficult
Story behind this kural
The old fisherman, Elan, knew the sea better than his own face. He'd sailed it for seventy years, weathering storms and basking in the sun. He’d seen countless ships swallowed whole, their crews lost to the unforgiving waves. One day, a fierce tempest arose, churning the ocean into a raging beast. Small boats were tossed like toys, and fear gripped the village. Elan, however, remained calm. He steered his small vessel towards a single, ancient lighthouse. Its beam, a steady, unwavering finger, cut through the darkness. He followed it, trusting in its guiding light. While other ships were lost, dashed against unseen rocks, Elan’s boat, guided by the lighthouse, found safe harbor. He watched the storm's fury from the shore, grateful. He knew the sea’s power, but also the solace of a constant, unwavering presence in the darkness.