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Tirukural: a Study in Comparison Contents Hebrew Proverbs and Ancient Tamil Proverbs Book of Proverbs and Tirukural: A Study in Comparison Contents • I. Introduction • II. Tirukural: An Overview • III. Proverbs and Tirukural: A Comparison • IV. Proverbs and Tirukural: Commonalities and Differences • V. Place of Tirukural among Tamils Today • VI. Conclusion • VII. Resources HEBREW TAMIL I. INTRODUCTION • Book of Proverbs contains a dedicated collection of Hebrew proverbs in the Old Testament. • Tiru-ku-ral is selected from among the ancient Tamil literatures for comparative study, because of its ancient-ness, pithiness and its continued influence upon Tamils until today as a major moral force. TAMILNADU (“Land of Tamils”) • Both books have universal flavor and appeal to morality, social- responsibility, right-living, etc. II. TIRUKURAL: AN OVERVIEW Prof. Kamil Zvelebil on Tirukural Tamil Scholar, Czech Republic • “Thirukkural is a contribution of the Tamil creative genius to the world cultural treasure and should be familiar to the whole world and admired and beloved by all in the same way as the poems of Homer, the dramas of Shakespeare, the pictures of Rembrandt, the cathedrals of France and the sculptures of Greece” Tirukural: What is It? • Tiru-ku-ral is the oldest secular collection of proverbs / sayings in Tamil Language, one of the two classical languages in India (other language is Sanskrit). • THE most-translated Indian book • Author = Tiru-vallu-var, a Tamil Philosopher • Tirukural – dated around 2nd cent BC . “Tiru” = Honourable; . “Kural” = Proverbial poems / couplet • Tirukural is also known as . Tamil Marai – Tamil Scriptures . Poy-ya-mozhi – Infallible Sayings . Uttara vedam – Greatest Veda . Deiva Nool – Divine Book …. OVERVIEW • 133 chapters and 1330 couplets “Without • 3 Major Divisions disciplined . Aram (Virtue) – Focuses on character, character, discipline (1-38 one cannot chapters) meaningfully . Porul (Wealth) – Focuses on contribute to the world outside; social the society relationships, etc (39-108) around and . Inbam (Love) – Focuses on experience love, lust, heart-break and the virtues of reunion (109-133 chapters) love.” …cont. OVERVIEW • All kurals / couplets contains 7 words: . 4 words in the first line . 3 words in the second line • The first Kural begins with “Aa/அ” (first letter) and the last kural (1330th) ends with th “in/ன்” (the 246 /last letter of Tamil alphabets) III. PROVERBS AND TIRUKURAL: A COMPARISON SELECTED THEMES 1. God 9. Knowledge of 2. Family Power, Time, Place 3. Pleasant Speech 10. Determination 4. Gratitude 11. Governance / King 5. Against 12. Friendship Covetousness 13. Folly 6. Compassion 14. Not Drinking 7. Anger / Evil 15. Praise and Pain of 8. Learning Love 1. God (Tirukural) • அகர 믁தல எ폁த்ததல்லாம் ஆதி பகவன் 믁தற்றே உல埁 (1) • Aka-ra Mu-dha-la Ezhu-thel-laam Aa-dhi Pa-ka-van Mu-dha-tre Ula-ku • As the letter “A” is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the world • கற்ேதனால் ஆய பயதனன்தகால் வாலேிவன் நற்ோள் ததாழாஅர் எனின் (2) • Katradhanaal Aaya Payanenkol Vaalarivan Natraal Thozhaaar Enin • Education is meaningless when it does not lead to the worship of true God …God (Tirukural) • மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாண羿 றைர்ந்தார் நிலமிசை நீ翁வாழ் வார் (3) • Malarmisai Ekinaan Maanati Serndhaar Nilamisai Neetuvaazh Vaar • Those who hold on to the feet of God shall flourish longer on the earth. • தனக்埁வசம இல்லாதான் தாள்றைர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால் மனக்கவசல மாற்ேல் அ쎿鏁 (7) • Thanakkuvamai Illaadhaan Thaalserndhaark Kallaal Manakkavalai Maatral Aridhu Unless we unite ourselves with the incomprehensible God, it is impossible to remove endless anxiety from our minds. God in Proverbs • References: 1:7, 3:4,5,7,9, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 15:3, 28:14, etc • God as the Creator of everything (3:19, 8:22), so acknowledge Him. • God is present and administers the entire universe. • Fear of the Lord is the central theme. Seeking wisdom without fearing God is folly (1:7). • It relates every human conducts, and responses in relation to the Lord. • God-centred world-view 2. Family • அன்ꯁம் அேꟁம் உசைத்தாயின் இல்வாழ்க்சக பண்ꯁம் பயꟁம் அ鏁 (45) • Anpum Aranum Utaiththaayin Ilvaazhkkai Panpum Payanum Adhu • Family life, motivated by love and virtue, endows it with usefulness and happiness. • ததய்வம் ததாழாஅள் தகா폁நற் தோ폁தத폁வாள் தபய்தயனப் தபய்뿁ம் மசழ (55) • Theyvam Thozhaaal Kozhunan Thozhudhezhuvaal Peyyenap Peyyum Mazhai • If a wife, who does not worship God, but her husband, say, "let it rain," it will rain. …Family (Tirukural) • 埁ழலினி தியாழினி ததன்பதம் மக்கள் மழசலச்தைால் றகளா தவர் (66) • Kuzhal Inidhu Yaazhinidhu Enpadham Makkal Mazhalaichchol Kelaa Thavar • "The pipe is sweet, the lute is sweet," say those who have not paid attention to the prattle of their own children • அன்பிலார் எல்லாம் தமக்埁쎿யர் அன்ꯁசையார் என்ꯁம் உ쎿யர் பிேர்க்埁 (72) • Anpilaar Ellaam Thamakkuriyar Anputaiyaar Enpum Uriyar Pirarkku • The loveless ones want all for themselves; the tender- hearted will give all they have for others. Family (Proverbs) • References: 4:18-19, 12:4, 15:27, 17:6, 18:22, 19:4, 31:10 – A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (12:4) – House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD (19:4) • Proverbs assures that having a good family is God’s blessing • Wives’ role is emphasised (31:) • Children are to be guided in right path and discipline emphasised • God’s word as base for family • It’s main context of teaching is family, evidenced in its use of father, mother, son, etc. 3. Pleasant Speech (Tirukural) • அகன்அமர்ந் தீதலின் நன்றே 믁கனமர்ந்鏁 இன்தைாலன் ஆகப் தபேின் (92) • Akanamarndhu Eedhalin Nandre Mukanamarndhu Insolan Aakap Perin • Sweet speech, with a cheerful countenance is better than a gift made with a joyous mind • பணிퟁசையன் இன்தைாலன் ஆதல் ஒ쏁வற்埁 அணியல்ல மற்쟁ப் பிே (95) • Panivutaiyan Insolan Aadhal Oruvarku Aniyalla Matrup Pira • Humility and sweetness of speech are the ornaments of man; all others are not (ornaments) …Pleasant Speech (Tirukural) • ைி쟁சம뿁ள் நீங்கிய இன்தைால் ம쟁சம뿁ம் இம்சம뿁ம் இன்பம் த쏁ம் (98) • Sirumaiyul Neengiya Insol Marumaiyum Immaiyum Inpam Tharum • Sweet speech, free from harm to others, will give pleasure both in this world and in the next • இனிய உளவாக இன்னாத 埂ேல் கனிஇ쏁ப்பக் காய்கவர்ந் தற்쟁 (100) • Iniya Ulavaaka Innaadha Kooral Kaniiruppak Kaaikavarn Thatru • To say unplesant things when plesant words are at hand is like eating unriped fruit when there is well-riped fruit Pleasant Speech (Proverbs) • References: 10:20, 12:18, 15:49, 16:24, 24:26, 25:11 – Pleasant words are pure (15:26b) – Pleasant words are as honeycomb (16:23) • Proverbs contrasts wise words vs. foolish talk (16:13) • Wisdom is knowing how to speak, when to speak, whom to speak, etc (17:27, 29:20). • It warns people to keep away from bad speech – slander, flattery, perversity, lying (6:12b) 4. Gratitude • காலத்தி னாற்தைய்த நன்ேி ைிேிததனிꟁம் ஞாலத்தின் மாணப் தப쎿鏁 (102) • Kaalaththi Naarseydha Nandri Siridheninum Gnaalaththin Maanap Peridhu • A favour conferred in the time of need, though it be small (in itself), is (in value) much larger than the world • மேவற்க மாைற்ோர் றகண்சம 鏁ேவற்க 鏁ன்பத்鏁ள் 鏁ப்பாயார் நட்ꯁ (106) • Maravarka Maasatraar Kenmai Thuravarka Thunpaththul Thuppaayaar Natpu • Forsake not the friendship of those who stood with you in adversity; Forget not be benevolence of the blameless. …Gratitude (Tirukural) • நன்ேி மேப்ப鏁 நன்ேன்쟁 நன்ேல்ல鏁 அன்றே மேப்ப鏁 நன்쟁 (108) • Nandri Marappadhu Nandrandru Nandralladhu Andre Marappadhu Nandru • Forget not any benefits received; Forget an injury even in the very inflicted moment • எந்நன்ேி தகான்ோர்க்埁ம் உய்ퟁண்ைாம் உய்வில்சல தைய்ந்நன்ேி தகான்ே மகற்埁 (110) • Ennandri Kondraarkkum Uyvuntaam Uyvillai Seynnandri Kondra Makarku • A killer of every virtue may yet eternal rest; but not for the killers of the virtue of gratitude. Gratitude (Proverbs) • References: 17:13 – If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house • Proverbs points out the importance of reciprocating gratitude • Its advice to “remember” implies grateful recollection of received wisdom 5. Against Covetousness • பசகபாவம் அச்ைம் பழிதயன நான்埁ம் இகவாவாம் இல்லிேப்பான் கண் (146) • Pakaipaavam Achcham Pazhiyena Naankum Ikavaavaam Illirappaan Kan • Hatred, sin, fear, disgrace; these four will never leave him who goes in to his neighbour's wife • பிேன்மசன றநாக்காத றபராண்சம ைான்றோர்க் கேதனன்றோ ஆன்ே தவா폁க்埁 (148) • Piranmanai Nokkaadha Peraanmai Saandrorkku Aranondro Aandra Vozhukku • It is noble manliness not to look at the wife of another. This is the virtue and dignity of the great [men]. …Against Covetousness • ைிற்ேின்பம் தவஃகி யேனல்ல தைய்யாறர மற்ேின்பம் றவண்翁 பவர் (173) • Sitrinpam Veqki Aranalla Seyyaare Matrinpam Ventu Pavar • Those who desire the higher pleasures (of heaven) will not covet unjustly (in this life). • அஃகி யகன்ே அேிதவன்னாம் யார்மாட்翁ம் தவஃகி தவேிய தையின் (175) • Aqki Akandra Arivennaam Yaarmaattum Veqki Veriya Seyin • What is the advantage of extensive knowledge/learning if a man is covetous and acts senselessly? Against Covetousness (Proverbs) • References: 3:31, 6:32-33, 15:27, 21:25-26, 28:16 – A greedy man brings trouble to his family (15:27a) – He that hates covetousness shall prolong his days (28:16b) • Proverbs advises strongly against greed, envy and covetousness. • It suggests ‘fear of God’ as the antidote to covetousness (23:17) 6. Compassion • ஆற்쟁வா ராற்ேல் பைியாற்ேல் அப்பைிசய மாற்쟁வா ராற்ேலிற் பின் (225) • Aatruvaar Aatral Pasiaatral Appasiyai Maatruvaar Aatralin Pin It is better to provide food to the hungry, than holding a penance of fasting. • அ쏁ள்றைர்ந்த
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