Thiukkurahl and World Quotations for Better Living.

                                                   

                                   V.T.RAMAKRISHNAN

This blogger “Thirukkurahl and World Quotations for Better Living” is aimed at the students, who will be forming the next generation. Three hundred and sixty six quotations were selected from the book, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. An equivalent English version of a literary work, called “Thirukkurahl” is included along with each quotation. The “Thirukkurahl” was supposed to have been written during 50 B.C., in Tamil, a regional language in the present Tamil Nadu, in India. The “Thirukkurahl” consists of 1330 couplets, in 133 headings. The English translation of the “Thirukkurahl” was written by Rev. W. H. Drew and Rev. John Lazarus, and published by Saradha publishers, Chennai-600 014, India, in the year 2004. This and subsequent material is the English translation of the material from the original books written by me in Tamil, entitled: 

1."உலகப் பொன்மொழிகளும் திருக்குறளும்"(Ulaga Ponmozhigahlum Thirukkurahlum) meaningWorld’s Golden words and Thirukkurahl, published by Manimekalai Prasuram, Chennai- 600 017, India, in the year 2007. (1-100). 

2. "ஆங்கிலப் பொன்மொழிகளுக்குப் பொருத்தமான திருக்குறள்கள்" (Aangilap ponmozhikahlukkup poruththamaana thirukkurahlkahl) published by Manimekalai Prasuram, in 2009. (101-233).

3. " திருக்குறளும் ஆங்கிலப் பொன்மொழிகளும்" (Thirukkurahlum aankilap ponmozhikahlum") published by Manimekalai Prasuram, in 2011). (234 - 366). 

The author profoundly acknowledges the above mentioned sources for the quotations and the English translation of the Thirukkurahl. 

 Author: Dr. V. T. Ramakrishnan. (e-mail: vtrk28@yahoo.com, vtrk57@gmail.com).

Professor of Organic Chemistry (Retired),

University of Madras. Chennai.

Residence: 57, Dhanalakshmi Avenue, Adyar, Chennai-600 020, India.

OTHER BOOKS OF INTEREST;

1. "The Excel School". By V.T.Ramakrishnan. Published by 'PublishAmerica', USA, 2008.

2. " Sixteen Prosperities for Better Living". By V.T.Ramakrishnan. Published by 'PublishAmerica', USA, 2009. 

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January 1.

• The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside. (Homer, 700 B.C.)

As the letter ‘A’ is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the       world. (Thirukkurahl – 1).

அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி

பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு. (குறள் - 1).

                      Agara mudhala yezhuththellaam aadhi

                      Bhagavan mudhartrae vulagu (Thirukkurahl -1)    

We have to realize that whatever we see in this world are the gifts of the god. We have to gain a lot of experience and listen to various explanations to understand this principle. Therefore, we have to believe certain things, even though we don’t understand them. Let us take, as an example, a young child which cannot read or write, but it can speak. If that child tells that there is no letter, nobody will accept its statement. The same child, after a few years, will feel shy of what it had said if somebody brought that matter to her notice.

 Hence, we have to believe certain things, even though we don’t understand them at the moment.

January 2.

2. Young men’s minds are always changeable, but when an old man is      concerned in a matter, he looks both before and after. (Homer, 700 B.C.)

The learning of those who have read, understood (much) will shine in the assembly of those who faultlessly examine (the nature of) words. (Thirukkurahl – 717).

கற்றறிந்தார் கல்வி விளங்கும் கசடுஅறச்

சொல்தெரிதல் வல்லார் அகத்து. (குறள் - 717). 

          Kartrarindhaar kalvi vihlanghum kasadara

          Soltheridhal vallaar agaththu. (Thirukkurahl – 717).

The youth’s thinking will be always growing and hence changing. A five, or six year old child will like certain jobs and would say that it wants to take-up that job. But, it does not know the difficulties of that job. It does not even know that there are other better jobs/opportunities. The same child, after a few years, will say that it likes a different job. In the same way, the youth’s thinking is liable to change. An elder’s advice is important to get a complete understanding of everything. We can notice the appropriate knowledge in the elders according to the age, education and experience.

A tenth grade student will know and explain scientific points to a certain extent. The same student will give a better explanation to the same question, after some years if he acquires a Ph.D. degree. The same person’s explanation for the same question, after 20-30 years of experience and especially if he/she gets the world’s most prestigious Nobel prize, will be more exhaustive, excellent, and beneficial to all. In the same way, the knowledge will increase many fold by the experience a person gets in his/her field.

Therefore, it is always better to listen to the experienced, and knowledgeable elderly people, to progress in life. 

January 3.

3. A companion’s words of persuasion are effective. (Homer, 700 B.C.)

Friendship is to be practiced not for the purpose of laughing, but for that to being before hand in giving one another sharp rebukes in case of transgression. (Thirukkurahl – 784).

நகுதல் பொருட்டன்று நட்டல் மிகுதிக்கண் 

மேற்சென்று இடித்தற் பொருட்டு. (குறள் - 784).

          Nagudhar(p) poruttandru nattal; miguthikkahn

          Maerchendru yidiththar(p) poruttu. (Thirukkurahl – 784).

A friend is the best advisor to any person. A friend is the one who always remains nearby. Friends know the mind of any person who moves with them, because they are the people who are together for a longer time, during student days or at work. They share their knowledge, or any deficiency, their greatness, and ups and downs in life; hence, they become equal in their mentality. Therefore, conversation and discussion with a friend will always give strength to a person. So, one has to be very careful while choosing a friend.

If a person wants to become a technologist, he must get into an engineering course, and listen to an engineer. In other words, a person who is good in a subject is the one from whom others should take lessons. Hence, to know about a person, we have to approach somebody who knows about him/her. The friends have the capacity to persuade and change the behavior of a person. Hence, a friend is the best advisor.

Therefore, one should choose good persons before becoming friends.

January 4. 

4.           There is strength in the union even of very sorry men. (Homer, 700 B.C.)

That indeed is an army which is capable of offering a united resistance , even if ‘Yama’ advances  against it with fury. (Thirukkurahl – 765).

கூற்றுஉடன்று மேல்வரினும் கூடி எதிர்நிற்கும் 

ஆற்றல் அதுவே படை. (குறள் - 765).  

            Koortrudandru maelvarinum koodi yedhirnirkkum

            Aartral adhuvae padai . (Thirukkurahl – 765).

Togetherness is always good. An old story of ‘a tiger and four cows’ is known to everyone. The story is like this: When the cows were grazing separately, a tiger used to kill a cow each time for its food. Then the cows got together and were grazing as one group. The tiger could not attack any cow, since they were all in a group, protecting each other. One can easily break a single tiny stick. But, if about 50-60 such tiny sticks are bundled together, it is very difficult to break even one stick in the bundle. It is very difficult to ride a uni-cycle(one wheel); but, it is not so difficult to ride a bicycle. It is very easy to ride a tricycle. A cloth is made of a lot of threads. A comparison of the strength of a thread and that of the cloth made out of the same thread can be easily seen to understand the value of being a group. Hence, people have to be together to lead a happy life.

We come across many plastic materials in day-to-day life. A common person may not know how it is made. The scientists have found the methods to make such plastic materials; the fundamental raw materials are actually gaseous compounds. By the combination of different simple raw materials at various proportions, the strength, the flexibility, the temperature- resistance, and fire-resistance properties can be incorporated into that, depending upon the combination, and temperature. The making of various kinds of plastics is controlled by the conditions by which they are made and the raw materials. 

Hence being in a group is always good. However, the strength depends upon the making of the group.

January 5.

• Once harm has been done, even a fool understands it. (Homer, 700 B.C.).                                                                                

  

Let not a man consent to do those things to another which, he knows, will give sorrow. (Thirukkurahl – 316).

இன்னா எனத்தான் உணர்ந்தவை துன்னாமை

வேண்டும் பிறன்கண் செயல். (குறள் - 316).

           Innaa yenaththaan vuhnanrthavai thunnaamai

           Vaehndum pirankahn seyal. (Thirukkurahl – 316).

No one should do any wrong thing at any time, to living and non-living things. If a person breaks a glass, or a lamp, everyone will say that it is not good to do so. No intelligence is required to condemn the breaking of a pot containing water. One should always do good things. If a person abuses someone, it is never forgotten. 

Once, a person fell down while running in an Olympic game, tipped by another, probably unknowingly, and lost the chance of winning in the race. No one would forget that incident, whether it is a participant, spectator, or the two actual persons involved in the incident. No one would forget the killing of Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy and many other world leaders

Hence, everyone should speak good things, and do good things. Everyone should avoid doing bad things, and injuring other persons by their speech and action.