Written Messages

 

            Paris - France

25 Sept. 2013

 

It is perhaps the most revered ancient work in the Tamil language by the great Thiruvalluvar who probably lived in Mylapore (Chennai) as also in Madurai among King Pandian's college of poets. Some believe that Valluvar was a King who ruled Valluvanadu in the hilly tracts of Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu over two thousand years ago.

 

Kriyabans may ponder over the following samples from his poems.

 

            1.         To say unpleasant things, when we have nice ones, is like eating unripe fruit, ignoring sweet ripe fruits.

            2.         Learning is the true imperishable wealth; other things are not wealth.

            3.         Listening is the best of all wealth; it is considered to be the foremost.

            4.         True friends guard you from evil, make you walk in right path and share your sorrow in difficult times.

            5.         Agriculturists are the linchpin of mankind since they support all others who cannot till the soil.

            6.         The learned teacher makes you enjoy learning; on leaving, makes you to keep pondering over his teaching.

            7.         The ability to be free of jealousy is the ultimate of strengths.

            8.         Wicked acts out of jealousy breed misery and, therefore, mature people will not give in to it.

            9.         Jealousy is self-destructive and, therefore, more dangerous than one's enemies.

            10.       It is unlikely that one consumed with jealousy will prosper. It is just as unlikely that one free of jealousy will become poverty-stricken.

            11.       One who eats meat to become stronger will not be a compassionate person.

            12.       The world will respect one who neither kills nor eats meat.

            13.       While water cleanses the body, truthfulness cleanses the conscience.

            14.       There is absolutely nothing better than being truthful.

            15.       Non-killing is the ultimate in morals - truthfulness comes second.

            16.       Those who live by killing are sick and cruel people.

            17.       Complacency is more dangerous than rage.

            18.       There is nothing more beneficial than having the ability to overpower complacency.

            19.       Fertile land, educated work force and trustworthy investors constitute a country.

            20.       Forging friendship with persons of good qualities is beneficial like reading good books.

            21.       Friendship becomes strained when friends start to boast about themselves.

            22.       A fool who acquires sudden wealth will behave like a drunken lunatic.

            23.       It is foolish to try to educate an arrogant person who believes that he is knowledgeable for it is impossible to make him aware of his shortcoming.

            24.       Resolving the enmity caused by conflict of beliefs leads to prosperity while trying to fuel it leads to destruction.

            25.       Hostility caused by conflicts in beliefs creates misery while unity that results from friendship breeds happiness.

            26.       One does not have to be afraid of an enemy who is straight forward but he must beware of a sweet-talking malicious person.

            27.       It would be self-destructive should one try to discredit mature people who are well known for their nobility.

            28.       Nothing gives more misery than addiction to gambling for one loses self-respect and focus.

            29.       You will not fall ill if you eat only after your previous meal has been digested.

            30.       Humans do not lack the potential to behave, be truthful and develop a conscience.

            31.       Positive self-esteem motivates a person to achieve greatness while the lack of it dulls him.

            32.       While people with positive self-esteem are humble, those with poor self-esteem are boastful.

            33.       The world will be a chaotic place to live, if people lose their nobility.

            34.       The core of courtesy is a deep sense of humility towards all.

            35.       People who, even if they are intelligent, lack courtesy will only grow tall like trees!

 

There are, in total, 1330 such parables in poetry which are popular among Tamil speaking people. These are also sung in classical music conferences.

 

 

Jai Thiruvalluvar