[VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 1 I JAN. – MARCH 2017] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 The Proverbs and Tirukkural as “Immortal Pieces of Proverbial Literature”: A brief Analysis

Dr. S. Chelliah, Professor, Head & Chairperson, School of English, Foreign Languages & School of Indian Languages, Department of English & Comparative Literature, Kamaraj University, Madurai - 625 021. (T.N). India.

Received Feb. 03, 2017 Accepted March 10, 2017

ABSTRACT This article lays focus on the wisdom which is the subject matter under the value system of life discussed in The Proverbs and The Tirukkural. It also throws light on how these enhance and enable the readers/ lovers of literature to lead a life of morality. Both the works are the quintessence of great wisdom which had crystallized in the social consciousness of the human society/ people.

Key words: The Proverbs, The Tirukkural. It is an accepted fact that Comparative on the fundamental rules of morality. These Literature is an academic discipline and a include rules prohibiting persons from killing subject of scholarly investigation. It is other persons, from inflicting injury on them essentially a humanistic education aiming at or from depriving them of freedom and evaluating a work of art with other areas of opportunity. What is true is that human values knowledge and art. As David Malone puts it, change from time to time and culture to “the fullest meaning and the final evaluation of culture. But when the term ‘universality’ is a piece of literature can result only from used with reference to moral values, it comparison”. (P2) Human life is actually a signifies the fact that at least, the basic rules of major theme which includes not only social morality are the same across cultures. For and political issues but also the probing, instance, the rule “thou shell not kill”. (P13) searchings and speculations of philosophy, The universality of moral values also signifies truths and revelations of religion and morality the point that the rules are to be regarded as in its fullest measure. A moral sense is something applying across cultural lines traditionally considered a unique attribute of presumably to every human being. All who are the human personality. The transformation human are members of the moral community from a solely biological organism to a socially and bear the rights and responsibilities of this responsible individual is the hallmark of the status. development of personality and a shared The Proverbs and The Tirukkural social development is necessary for viable present some of the most essential codes of human life. conduct to human beings. The core of the Moral norms are usually interpreted as message presented by these two classics is values of life, regarded high among the most ‘morality’. Though both classics are separated attractive guides to conduct. Philosophers who widely by time and space, they justify truly the profess moral values display wide agreement observation, “Great minds think alike”.

Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 17 [ VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 1 I JAN. – MARCH 2017] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 The Proverbs is nothing but a collection of prudence, understanding, discretion, topical maxims and a product of the Wisdom knowledge, guidance, competence, correction, school in Isreal. Solomon’s proverbs were counsel and truth from generation to written by 931 B.C and under Solomen, Israel generation as found in Tirukkural. was at its spiritual. According to I kings 4.32, ‘Kural’ means anything short. It is a he spoke 3,000 proverbs. Only about 800 of couplet containing a simple complete idea, his 3000 proverbs are included in the two often expressed in an epigrammatic form. It is solomonic collections in the book of Proverbs. a form that is admirably suited to the No man was better qualified than soloman to expression of ideas and Tiruvalluvar has be the principal contributor. He asked for handled this difficult medium with wisdom and God granted it to him to such a extraordinary skill and felicity. The degree that people from foreign lands came to combination of brevity of expression, grace of hear him speak. His breadth of knowledge, language, metre and highly refined ethical aptitude, skill and perception were found to ideas make Tirukkural a unique literary work. extraordinary. It is likely that Solomon Tirukkural contains 1330 couplets. There are collected and edited proverbs other than his one hundred and thirty-three chapters, each own. According to the Ecclesiastes, “he chapter containing ten couplets. Each is pondered and sought out and set in order headed by one major idea such as ‘friendship’, many proverbs. (P 666) ‘wisdom’, ‘justice’ and so on. The ten verses The Proverbs is one of the few Biblical under each major idea enable the poet to books that clearly spell out their purpose. expound one particular idea and various aspects of that idea in depth under different “That man may know wisdom and circumstances and conditions. Tirukkural is instruction, understand words of insight, considered to be antecedent of Cilappatikaram receive instruction in wise dealing, and because the latter classics righteousness, justice and equity; that quote from Tirukkural. Obvious language prudence may be given to the simple, resemblance could be seen between knowledge and discretion to the youth – Tirukkural and Cankam works quite often. In the- wise man also may hear and increase Tirukkural, the style of structuring the in learning and the man of understanding couplets and the mode of expression of ideas acquire skill, to understand a proverb and belong to one person. The following quotation a figure, the words of the wise and their speaks better for the authorship of the ancient riddles” (The Interpreter’s Bible 97) Tamil classic. It says: The purpose stated here is twofold: i) to “There is considerable internal evidence impart moral discernment and discretion and to show that the whole text belongs to ii) to develop mental clarity and perception. one another. Apart from the prosodic The Proverbs deals with the most fundamental metre which is throughout the same, the skill of all: practical righteousness before God general pattern to which the text is made in every area of life. Chapters 1-9 are designed to conform and certain mannerisms of to create a felt need for wisdom and the expression go to show that the text is proverbs as a whole is designed to prevent an from the pen of one and the same author” ungodly life style. The book proverbs serves as (P xiii) a manual to impart the legacy of wisdom, 18 IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Research Paper [VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 1 I JAN. – MARCH 2017] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 Tirukkural is essentially a book on ethical of sayings in the book of Proverbs has a philosophy. It portrays moralistic way of life universal quality and Tirkkural is the most and lays down a code of conduct. Mr. Gower distinguished example of proverbial literature says that Tirukkural is essentially the highest in the . It is the quintessence of type of verbal and moral excellence among the great wisdom which had crystallized in the Tamil people as ever Homer was among the social consciousness of the people to whom Greeks” (Piii). Tirukkural preaches perfection the author belonged. The observation of in character based on affection, dread of sin, Dr.Subramanian on the form of Tirukkural is benevolence, benignity and truth. To justify apt quoting here: this ancient work of one can quote the “The Kural is in form and in substance notable scholar scheweitzer who had great proverbial and had better be treated on reverence for it. He wrote: par with Chinese and Hebrew proverbial “With such strokes, the Kural draws the literature of ancient times” (P xxiv) ideal of the simple ethical humanity. On Idaikkadar, the well-known commentator, has the most varied questions concerning the described Tirukkural as “a little mustard seed conduct of man to himself and to the which has been bored to hold all the waters of world, its utterances are characterized by the seven oceans”. nobility and good sense. There hardly exists in the literature of the world a “Kudukait tulaittu elu katali putatti collection of maxims in which we find so Kumkattaritta kural (P 44) much lofty wisdom” (P iv) This commentary speaks well of Tirukkural’s So it is clear that this classic work is a string of terseness of expression and profundity of do’s and don’ts good advice and bland ideas. In short, the Proverbs and Tirukkural statements of proverbial wisdom. The resemble each other not only in their message Proverbs and The Tirukkural belong to the but also in outward framework. In the genre called Proverbial literature. As pieces of proverbs, the lines are arranged almost in proverbial literature, these texts deal with couplets. A certain number of Triplets occur moral values through brief, precise and then and there. The Proverbs may be pointed statements one of the characteristic described as a manual of conduct, or as Bruch, features of such works is to include human an eminent theologician, has said an values like wisdom, righteousness and love. “anthology of gnomes” (Toy xvii). Its observations relate to a number of forms of Wisdom is the subject under values of life, affairs, domestic, agricultural, urban, life discussed in the Proverbs and Tirukkural. commercial, political and military. Many of the Wise knowledge about facts leads a man in the sayings are simply maxims of commonsense, right path just as ignorance leads him to face prudence which need to be practiced with vigil undesirable consequences. Human mind is and caution. For instance, freed only when sparkling revelations about truth occur. This type of revelation occurs “Go to the ant, O sluggard; Consider when one goes on reading scriptures, didactic her wise and be wise without having any document and maxims as found in the chief, officer or ruler, she prepares her Proverbs and Tirukkural. In general, the thrust

Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 19 [ VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 1 I JAN. – MARCH 2017] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 food in summer and gathers her in disgrace and sorrow”(The Proverbs sustenance in harvest” (Proverbs 6,7,8.) 38, 39) The message of this extract is that an ant-hill is Moral content in proverbial sayings stimulates a busy place. Every member of the colony the person. Who reads it, to know what truth seems to be at work. Even those little insects is. For leading a life of truthfulness, one must are able to prepare themselves for the days of be able to realize what truth is. No one knows winter. How much more should a man learn everything. But everyone is expected to have this prudence and industry, that too in times the sense to discriminate good from evil. of harvest? Generally speaking, the proverbs According to Jesus Christ, the knowledge of compress an insight into a short, striking truth sets everyone mentally free. This mental sentence. Usually such compressed freedom ultimately leads men to attain formulations are meant to be essentially intellectual, spiritual and physical happiness ‘moral’. The condensed form of moral value, in as well. The words of Christ are as follows: such sayings, either encourages the reader to “And you shall know the truth, and the do good actions or restrains him from bad truth, shall make you free” (John 8:32) actions. The proverbs present many interesting illustrations for encouraging Tiruvalluvar also stresses the point that virtuous actions. For instance, whatever may be the nature of a thing; finding out the inherently true character of it can “my son, keep sound wisdom and alone be knowledge (T 354). The key to discretion; let them not escape from virtuous actions is virtuous thoughts. The your sight and they will be life for your attainment of a mind free from complex, soul and adornment for your neck. Then confusing and evil thought is the aim of the you will walk on your way securely and very life. The quintessence of moral teaching your foot will not stumble” (Proverbs wrapped up within a proverbial saying serves 3,4,5,6). better to lift people out of their ignorance. The A similar specimen can be cited from decoction of more matters in a few words in Tirukkural for the emphasis of statements the sayings of the Proverbs and Tirukkural encouraging virtuous actions. enhances and enables the readers to lead a life stresses that the principles of righteousness, of morality. The ultimate aim of the moral virtue etc., are only for those who take life content in the verses of the Proverbs and seriously and thereby limit more and more of Tirukkural is to thrust knowledge of truths their external acquisitions and increase the and thereby chasing the darkness called internal awakening: ignorance. One of the characteristic features of the proverbial expressions is to condemn “If you do good all thy life without a social evils like prostitution, consuming liquor, single wasted day, thou wallest day, gambling etc. The Proverbs and Tirukkural thou wallest up the road that leadeth speak more about these social evils. Both unto future births speak equally well on tongue’s creative force. ------There is nothing which seems more in They alone are joys which flow from a substantial than speech No doubt, the words virtuous life all other pleasures end but which issue out of the lips have the greatest power in human life. There is a harmonious 20 IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Research Paper [VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 1 I JAN. – MARCH 2017] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 appreciation in both these monumental texts tempered with mercy and free from deceit. for words that have a tremendous power for Nothing else but humility and sweet speech good or ill; can be an ornament to a man; “Death and life are in the power of the “Behold the man who useth hard words tongue, and those Who love it will eat its when ones serve; he Preferreth the fruit” (P 18: 21) upripe fruit to the ripe” (Tirukkural 99:100) The quotation is from the Proverbs and a strikingly similar one from Tirukkural is also Why should a person resort to offensive words worth mentioning here: when he has realized the pleasure of the efficiency of sweet words? Since speech has so “Prosperity and ruin are in the power of many hazards, the sages who weigh the tongue; guard thou therefore against circumstances aright and then speak might be imprudence of speech” (Tirukkural 642) expected to urge everyone to form suitable One can understand why sages and teachers friendship. They used words, they taught by are conscious of the power of speech, since means of words and they believed in the much of their life is given to communication efficacy of speech in bringing help and life to through words. people. The Proverbs speaks thus: The Proverbs makes many suggestions “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of regarding the use of the tongue. Restraint in life” (10:11) speech is commended. Persons who speak rashly, who pour forth words before they have “The tongue of the just is as choice silver” given themselves a chance to think, will get (10:20) into trouble. Words cannot be recalled after Tirukkural affirms: they have been spoken, any more than an arrow that cannot be called back after they “Weigh each circumstance aright and have left the bow. “The mouths of fools pour then speak the speech that is fit for the out folly” 21 (Prov 15:2) one can almost hear increase of righteousness and profit the cascade of words as they fall from the lips there is no other thing of more worth of the garrulous individual: than it” (Tirukkural 644) “When words are many, transgression If ideas are effective in guiding action, they can is not lacking, but he who restrains his be communicated through the medium of lips is prudent” (10:19) language. Through moral and ethical speech, we can communicate with one another and The rash and voluble talker has the law or through our words, we can instruct and edify averages against him, for sooner or later, he one another. Tirukkural, in its form and will cause damage by some unguarded content, comes very close to the proverbs remark. Tiruvalluvar assigns that words that when it is rendered into English version V.V.S. are sweet to the ear must be spoken. To resort Aiyar, a notable translator of Tirukkural, to bitter speech is like preferring to eat an observes: unripe fruit instead of a ripe one. Words from the mouths of those men who have attained “The resemblance of thought and diction realization of ultimate truth are sweet, of Tiruvalluvar to the greatest Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 21 [ VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 1 I JAN. – MARCH 2017] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 masterpieces of the Bible, and especially References

to the Ecclesiastes, the proverbs and 1. Marlone, David. “The Comparative in wisdom of Solomon, and the Sermons of Comparative Literature, Y.G.C.L 1954. Jesus, struck me forcibly” (P xii) 2. Eliade, Mercea. The Encyclopedia of To Conclude, Religion vol –II New York : Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987. Both the Proverbs and Tirukkural touch upon every facet of human 3. “Ecclesiastes 12” The open Bible New York: relationships, and their principles transcend Thomas Nelson Publishing Company, 1985. the bounds of time and culture. Both are the 4. Proverbs: 2 to 6 from The Interpreter’s most distinguished examples of proverbial Bible vol –iv New York : Abington Press, literature in the Hebrew and the Tamil 1939. languages respectively. As it is the 5. N. Subramanian and R. Rajalakshmi The characteristic feature of pithy sayings, the Concordance of Tirukkural Madurai: Enness proverbs and Tirukkural encourage virtuous Publications, 1984. actions and condemn absurd behaviour and social evils. The greatness of a person is measured by the virtuous life he leads. He rises his dignity to spiritual heights only by steadfast adherence to the practice of virtues. For this noble end, self-control is an essential virtue. According to Tiruvalluvar, endless glory adorns the personality who knows that self-control leads to wisdom and therefore practices it steadfastly. Such purified personalities acquire a permanent place in the memory of humanity and thereby become immortals. Both approve that wisdom is an insightful understanding about the consequences of an action. Tirukkural presents different views on wisdom under the title ‘understanding’. The key word in the

Proverbs is wisdom, the ability to live life skillfully. ‘wisdom’ and ‘understanding’ should be brought into closer relationship as the best means of preserving the young man from the evil which besets his path which, if not shunned, will lead to his ruin. Wisdom guards life from pitfalls and holds forth the highest rewards. All these get neatly projected in The Proverbs and Tirukkural.

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