Kural #841
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Tamil text
அறிவின்மை இன்மையுள் இன்மை
பிறிதின்மை இன்மையா வையாது உலகு
Aṟiviṉmai iṉmaiyuḷ iṉmai
Piṟitiṉmai iṉmaiyā vaiyātu ulaku
English translation
Lack of knowledge is the poverty of all poverties; the world does not consider other lacks as true poverty.
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Explanation
Among all forms of poverty (இன்மை), the lack of wisdom (அறிவின்மை) is the worst. The world does not consider any other lack (பிறிது இன்மை) as true poverty. Material poverty is temporary; intellectual poverty is devastating.
விளக்கம்
அறிவில்லாதது எல்லா வறுமையிலும் மோசமானது. உலகத்தார் மற்ற வறுமைகளை வறுமையாக நினைக்க மாட்டார்கள். புல்லறிவாண்மை அதிகாரத்தில், அறிவின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை வள்ளுவர் வலியுறுத்துகிறார். அறிவுதான் உண்மையான செல்வம்.
Word meanings
- அறிவுaṟivuknowledge/wisdom
- இன்மைiṉmailack/absence
- இன்மையுள்iṉmaiyuḷamong lacks
- பிறிதுpiṟituother
- இன்மையாiṉmaiyāas poverty
- வையாதுvaiyātudoes not consider
- உலகுulakuworld
Story behind this kural
In a sun-baked village lived two men: Arun, a wealthy merchant, and Bala, a humble farmer. Arun possessed granaries overflowing with grain and chests heavy with gold. Bala, however, knew the secrets of the land, the patterns of the stars, and the wisdom of the elders. One year, a terrible drought struck. Arun’s granaries, though full, could not provide water, and his gold could not conjure rain. His crops withered, and his people grew desperate. Arun, panicked, saw his wealth dwindle with each passing day. Bala, however, knew where to find an underground spring, a hidden source of life. He guided his village, sharing his knowledge of survival. While Arun's riches crumbled, Bala's community thrived, learning to endure. They understood the value of knowledge, the true treasure that sustained them.