TIRUKKURAL, Mysticism, reading, forums, Numerology, Sun Signs, Divination

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:05 am

2.1.3 Ignorance

401
Like those at draughts would play without the chequered square,
Men void of ample lore would counsels of the learned share.
To speak in an assembly (of the learned) without fullness of knowledge, is like playing at chess (on a board) without squares.

402
Like those who doat on hoyden's undeveloped charms are they,
Of learning void, who eagerly their power of words display.
The desire of the unlearned to speak (in an assembly), is like a woman without breasts desiring (the enjoyment of ) woman-hood.

403
The blockheads, too, may men of worth appear,
If they can keep from speaking where the learned hear!
The unlearned also are very excellent men, if they know how to keep silence before the learned.

404
From blockheads' lips, when words of wisdom glibly flow,
The wise receive them not, though good they seem to show.
Although the natural knowledge of an unlearned man may be very good, the wise will not accept for true knowledge.

405
As worthless shows the worth of man unlearned,
When council meets, by words he speaks discerned.
The self-conceit of an unlearned man will fade away, as soon as he speaks in an assembly (of thelearned).

406
'They are': so much is true of men untaught;
But, like a barren field, they yield us nought!
The unlearned are like worthless barren land: all that can be said of them is, that they exist.

407
Who lack the power of subtle, large, and penetrating sense,
Like puppet, decked with ornaments of clay, their beauty's vain pretence.
The beauty and goodness of one who is destitute of knowledge by the study of great and exquisite works, is like (the beauty and goodness) of a painted earthen doll.

408
To men unlearned, from fortune's favour greater-evil springs
Than poverty to men of goodly wisdom brings.
Wealth, gained by the unlearned, will give more sorrow than the poverty which may come upon the learned.

409
Lower are men unlearned, though noble be their race,
Than low-born men adorned with learning's grace.
The unlearned, though born in a high caste, are not equal in dignity to the learned; though they may have been born in a low caste.

410
Learning's irradiating grace who gain,
Others excel, as men the bestial train.
As beasts by the side of men, so are other men by the side of those who are learned in celebrated works.

2.1.4 Hearing

411
Wealth of wealth is wealth acquired be ear attent;
Wealth mid all wealth supremely excellent.
Wealth (gained) by the ear is wealth of wealth; that wealth is the chief of all wealth.

412
When 'tis no longer time the listening ear to feed
With trifling dole of food supply the body's need.
When there is no food for the ear, give a little also to the stomach.

413
Who feed their ear with learned teachings rare,
Are like the happy gods oblations rich who share.
Those who in this world enjoy instruction which is the food of the ear, are equal to the Gods, who enjoy the food of the sacrifices.

414
Though learning none hath he, yet let him hear alway:
In weakness this shall prove a staff and stay.
Although a man be without learning, let him listen (to the teaching of the learned); that will be to him a staff in adversity.

415
Like staff in hand of him in slippery ground who strays
Are words from mouth of those who walk in righteous ways.
The words of the good are like a staff in a slippery place.

416
Let each man good things learn, for e'en as he
Shall learn, he gains increase of perfect dignity.
Let a man listen, never so little, to good (instruction), even that will bring him great dignity.

417
Not e'en through inadvertence speak they foolish word,
With clear discerning mind who've learning's ample lessons heard.
Not even when they have imperfectly understood (a matter), will those men speak foolishly, who have profoundly studied and diligently listened (to instruction).

418
Where teaching hath not oped the learner's ear,
The man may listen, but he scarce can hear.
The ear which has not been bored by instruction, although it hears, is deaf.

419
'Tis hard for mouth to utter gentle, modest word,
When ears discourse of lore refined have never heard.
It is a rare thing to find modesty, a reverend mouth- with those who have not received choice instruction.

420
His mouth can taste, but ear no taste of joy can give!
What matter if he die, or prosperous live?
What does it matter whether those men live or die, who can judge of tastes by the mouth, and not by the ear ?

2.1.5 The Possession of Knowledge

421
True wisdom wards off woes, A circling fortress high;
Its inner strength man's eager foes Unshaken will defy.
Wisdom is a weapon to ward off destruction; it is an inner fortress which enemies cannot destroy.

422
Wisdom restrains, nor suffers mind to wander where it would;
From every evil calls it back, and guides in way of good.
Not to permit the mind to go where it lists, to keep it from evil, and to employ it in good, this is wisdom.

423
Though things diverse from divers sages' lips we learn,
'Tis wisdom's part in each the true thing to discern.
To discern the truth in every thing, by whomsoever spoken, is wisdom.

424
Wisdom hath use of lucid speech, words that acceptance win,
And subtle sense of other men's discourse takes in.
To speak so as that the meaning may easily enter the mind of the hearer, and to discern the subtlest thought which may lie hidden in the words of others, this is wisdom.

425
Wisdom embraces frank the world, to no caprice exposed;
Unlike the lotus flower, now opened wide, now petals strictly closed.
To secure the friendship of the great is true wisdom; it is (also) wisdom to keep (that friendship unchanged, and) not opening and closing (like the lotus flower).

426
As dwells the world, so with the world to dwell
In harmony- this is to wisely live and well.
To live as the world lives, is wisdom.

427
The wise discern, the foolish fail to see,
And minds prepare for things about to be.
The wise are those who know beforehand what will happen; those who do not know this are the unwise.

428
Folly meets fearful ills with fearless heart;
To fear where cause of fear exists is wisdom's part.
Not to fear what ought to be feared, is folly; it is the work of the wise to fear what should be feared.

429
The wise with watchful soul who coming ills foresee;
From coming evil's dreaded shock are free.
No terrifying calamity will happen to the wise, who (foresee) and guard against coming evils.

430
The wise is rich, with ev'ry blessing blest;
The fool is poor, of everything possessed.
Those who possess wisdom, possess every thing; those who have not wisdom, whatever they may possess, have nothing.