MORE TAMIL WISDOM — ‘NAL VAZI’ WRITTEN BY AVVAIYAR- 2 (Post No.5710)

WRITTEN by London Swaminathan


swami_48@yahoo.com


Date: 28 November 2018


GMT Time uploaded in London 7-32 am

Post No. 5710


Pictures shown here are taken from various sources including google, Wikipedia, Facebook friends and newspapers. This is a non- commercial blog.

Nal vazi  (Good Path) –Part Two (Concluding Part)

21.The red lotus seated goddess will at all times favour the guileless with water,shelter, sheaves of rice corn covering the threshing floor,good name,fame, great prosperity, possession of villages, increase of wealth and long life .

நீரும் நிழலும் நிலம்பொதியும் நெற்கட்டும்
பேரும் புகழும் பெருவாழ்வும் – ஊரும்
வருந்திருவும் வாழ்நாளும் வஞ்சமில்லார்க் கென்றும்
தரும்சிவந்த தாமரையாள் தான்.
21

xxx

 

22.Listen, he ruined and miserable men, who get money by hard labour and keep it buried: after your soul is gone from its lodging here, who, he sinners, will enjoy that money?

பாடுபட்டுத் தேடிப் பணத்தைப் புதைத்துவைத்துக்
கேடுகெட்ட மானிடரே கேளுங்கள் – கூடுவிட்டுங்(கு)
ஆவிதான் போயினபின் யாரே அனுபவிப்பார்
பாவிகாள் அந்தப் பணம்.
22
xxxx

23.The habitation s of those who, whilst on earth, inclined to partiality in judgement, will be occupied by fiends; white Erukku (milky shrubs) will grow and blossom therein. Pathalamuli ( Cyprus grass) will grow there and spread about. Muthevi, the goddess of ill luck will go and dwell there; and serpent s will live in them.

வேதாளம் சேருமே வெள்ளெருக்குப் பூக்குமே
பாதாள மூலி படருமே – மூதேவி
சென்றிருந்து வாழ்வளே சேடன் குடிபுகுமே
மன்றோரம் சொன்னார் மனை.
23

xxxx

24.The forehead without sacred ash es is void of beauty; the food without ghee is tasteless; the country without rivers is a desert; the body of the person who has no brothers or sisters is as if unadorned with jewels; and the house without a virtuous wife is destitute of beauty.

நீறில்லா நெற்றிபாழ்(;) நெய்யில்லா உண்டிபாழ்
ஆறில்லா ஊருக் (கு) அழகுபாழ் – மாறில்
உடன்பிறப் பில்லா உடம்புபாழ் (;) பாழே
மடக்கொடி இல்லா மனை.
24

xxxx

25.He who expends more than his income will be liable to lose his honour, to act foolishly, to appear a thief in the eyes of all men and in all places wherever he goes, to become so wicked as to continue in that state through the seven kinds of birth, and to be disregarded even by his beloved wife. Investigate its truth.

ஆன முதலில் அதிகம் செலவானால்
மானம் அழிந்து மதிகெட்டுப் – போனதிசை
எல்லார்க்கும் கள்ளனாய் ஏழ்பிறப்பும் தீயனாய்
நல்லார்க்கும் பொல்லனாம் நாடு.
25

xxxxx

26.Starvation destroys these ten: honour, dignity,learning, honesty, knowledge liberality, nobility, penance, application to business, and the love of women, whose tongue utters words as sweet as honey.

மானம் குலம் கல்வி வண்மை அறிவுடைமை
தானம் தவர்உயர்ச்சி தாளாண்மை – தேனின்
கசிவந்த சொல்லியர்மேல் காமுறுதல் பத்தும்
பசிவந்திடப் பறந்து போம்.
26
xxxxxx

27.You wish for one thing, then you get either the same thing or something else; Sometimes you find yourself in possession of a thing unexpected, hence you see in all these things the providential care of the Supreme Being.

ஒன்றை நினைக்கின் அதுஒழிந்திட் டொன்றாகும்
அன்றி அதுவரினும் வந்தெய்தும் – ஒன்றை
நினையாத முன்வந்து நிற்பினும் நிற்கும்
எனையாளும் ஈசன் செயல்.
27

xxxx

28..Man who is blind to all that befall him needs but a measure of rice for his daily food and a piece of cloth four cubits length for covering his nakedness, yet he is troubled with myriads of cares till the day of his death when his body perishes as an earthen vessel.

உண்பது நாழி உடுப்பது நான்குமுழம்
எண்பது கோடி நினைந்து எண்ணுவன – கண்புதைந்த
மாந்தர் குடிவாழ்க்கை மண்ணின் கலம்போலச்
சாந்துணையும் சஞ்சலமே தான்.
28
xxxx

29

29.If a tree bears fruit, there are none who will cal out to the bat, and entreat him to come there to eat there of. If people are ready to be liberal, like a milch cow giving out fresh milk,all the world will be their near relative s.

மரம்பழுத்தால் வௌவாலை வாவென்று கூவி
இரந்தழைப்பார் யாவருமங் கில்லை – சுரந்தமுதம்
கற்றா தரல்போல் கரவாது அளிப்பரேல்
உற்றார் உலகத் தவர்.

xxxx

30.O King! Aggreably to the decree of Brahma the lotus seated, every body here enjoy s the fruit of his actions of his former birth; who could avoid the evils caused by his enemies, though all his neighbors were to help him against them? Can you destroy the decrees of destiny?

தாம்தாம்முன் செய்தவினை தாமே அனுபவிப்பார்
பூந்தா மரை யோன் பொறிவழியே – வேந்தே
ஒறுத்தாரை என்செயலாம் ஊரெல்லாம் ஒன்றா
வெறுத்தாலும் போமோ விதி .
30

xxxx

 

31.The music to which poetry is sung is better than the poetry it is adapted to, if this be not properly constructed; virtue is to be preferred to rank; incessant pain is better than deficient heroism; single life is better than a wife that fears not disgrace.

இழுக்குடைய பாட்டிற்(கு) இசைநன்று(;) சாலும்
ஒழுக்கம் உயர்குலத்தின் நன்று – வழுக்குடைய
வீரத்தின் நன்று விடாநோய்(;) பழிக்கஞ்சாத்
தாரத்தின் நன்று தனி.
31

xxxx

32.O ye that dwell on earth! Riches are like the banks and the hollows formed by a river, changeable and inconstant. Therefore, give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty; such charitable actions will tend to make the quality of the mind elevated and noble.

ஆறிடும் மேடும் மடுவும்போ லாம்செல்வம்
மாறிடும் ஏறிடும் மாநிலத்தீர் – சோறிடும்
தண்ணீரும் வாரும் தருமமே சார்பாக
உண்ணீர்மை வீறும் உயர்ந்து.
32
xxxx

33.The language of severity will not prevail against the language of mildness; the arrow that falls on the mighty elephant and pierce s him, forces not its way through cotton; the rock that is not split by the long Iron crowbar , will yield to the root of a young tree.

வெட்டெனவை மெத்தனவை வெல்லாவாம்(;) வேழத்தில்
பட்டுருவும் கோல்பஞ்சில் பாயாது – நெட்டிருப்புப்
பாரைக்கு நெக்குவிடாப் பாறை பசுமரத்தின்
வேருக்கு நெக்கு விடும்.
33

xxxx

34.Though a man may be unlearned, if there only be wealth in his possession , all people will go to meet him at his approach; for him that has nothing even his wife will care not; yea even the mother that brought him forth and reared him up will care not for such a person; the words of his mouth will not be attended to.

கல்லானே ஆனாலும் கைப்பொருள்ஒன் றுண்டாயின்
எல்லாரும் சென்றங் கெதிர்கொள்வர் – இல்லானை
இல்லாளும் வேண்டாள்(;) மற் றீன்றெடுத்த தாய்வேண்டாள்
செல்லா(து) அவன்வாயிற் சொல்.
34
xxxx

35.There are some trees which bear fruits without flowering; and among mankind there are some who will understand of themselves, without telling them. As some seed will not grow though you sow it; so though you instruct a simpleton, his understanding will not manifest itself.

பூவாதே காய்க்கும் மரமுள மக்களுளும்
ஏவாதே நின்றுணர்வார் தாமுளரே – தூவா
விரைத்தாலும் நன்றாகா வித்தெனவே பேதைக்கு
உரைத்தாலும் தோன்றா(து) உணர்வு.
35

xxxx

36.O thou adorned with bright bracelets! The young of crabs, the pearls of oysters , bamboo s and the fruits of plantains bring with them respectively the destruction of their mothers; so seeking familiarity with his neighbors wives brings with it the ruin of ones knowledge, wealth and learning.

நண்டுசிப்பி வேய்கதலி நாசமுறுங் காலத்தில்
கொண்ட கருவளிக்கும் கொள்கைபோல் – ஒண்தொடீ
போதம் தனம்கல்வி பொன்றவரும் காலமயல்
மாதர்மேல் வைப்பார் மனம்.
36

xxxx

37.Neither the Vedas nor the Shastras teach us the way to avoid the fruit of our actions performed in previous births ; even to think of it is of no use; o thou mind, do not be solicitous about it; those who are absorbed in the Deity will have no births indeed.

வினைப்பயனை வெல்வதற்கு வேதம் முதலாம்
அனைத்தாய நூலகத்தும் இல்லை – நினைப்பதெனக்
கண்ணுறுவ தல்லால் கவலைப் படேல் நெஞ்சே
விண்ணுறுவார்க் கில்லை விதி.
37

xxx

38.To be absorbed in the contemplation of the deity in the very place where you are, without any making distinction saying, ‘this is good and this is bad ‘ , ‘ I did this and he did that ‘ ‘this is not and this is ‘ is the fruit of true wisdom; then you will be absorbed in the deity and be one with him. The Sambu grass and the ligaments with which it is tied into the bundle s are of the same substance.

நன்றென்றும் தீதென்றும் நானென்றும் தானென்றும்
அன்றென்றும் ஆமென்றும் ஆகாதே – நின்றநிலை
தானதாம் தத்துவமாம் சம்பறுத்தார் யாக்கைக்குப்
போனவா தேடும் பொருள்.
38

xxx

39.If one before his thirtieth year of age do not gain such amount of knowledge as to be able to extinguish his desire after Virtue, Riches and Pleasure— Dharma Artha Kama — and attain the state of securing Moksha, final bliss, , the knowledge which he can obtain after that age , will be merely book knowledge; Old age seeks after pleasure.

முப்பதாம் ஆண்டளவில் மூன்றற்று ஒருபொருளைத்
தப்பாமல் தன்னுள் பெறானாயின் – செப்பும்
கலையளவே ஆகுமாம் காரிகையார் தங்கள்
முலையளவே ஆகுமாம் மூப்பு.
39

xxx

40.Know thou that the following works treat of the same subject, viz. the Divine Kural, the four vakyas containing the substance of the Four Vedas, the poem of the Three Sages, the Vedantic Sutra of Vyasa, the Tirukkovai, the Tiruvasagam and the Tirumantra of sage Tirumular

தேவர் குறளும் திருநான் மறைமுடிவும்
மூவர் தமிழும் முனிமொழியும் – கோவை
திருவா சகமும் திருமூலர் சொல்லும்
ஒருவா சகமென் றுணர்.
40

Nal Vali of Avvaiyar, Tamil Poetess concluded (40 verses)

Thanks to Project Madurai for Tamil verses.

TAGS- Nal Vazi, Avvaiyar, Tamil Poetess, Tamil Wisdom

—- Subham—-

TAMIL WISDOM- AVVAIYAR’S KONDRAI VENTHAN IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL – PART 1 (Post No.5511)

Compiled by London Swaminathan

 
swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 6 October 2018

 

Time uploaded in London –13-31 (British Summer Time)

 

Post No. 5511

 

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources including google, Wikipedia, Facebook friends and newspapers. This is a non- commercial blog.

 

 

TAMIL WISDOM- AVVAIYAR’S KONDRAI VENTHAN IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL – PART 1 (Post No.5511)

 

(FOR THE PROFILE OF TAMIL POETESS AVVAIYAR, PLEASE SEE MY EARLIER POST ATHICHUDI OF AVVAIYAR IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL)

TAMIL VERSION IS TAKEN FROM PROJECT MADURAI OF M KALYANASUNDRAM.

PRAYER
கடவுள் வாழ்த்து 

 

LET US WORSHIP AND PRAISE CONTINUALLY THE FEET OF THE LORD WHO WEARS THE GARLAND OF FLOWERS FROM THE CASSIA (KONDRAI) TREE.

கொன்றை வேந்தன் செல்வன் அடியினை
என்றும் ஏத்தித் தொழுவோம் யாமே.

உயிர் வருக்கம் VOWELS OF TAMIL LANGUAGE

1.OUR MOTHER AND FATHER ARE THE FIRST KNOWN GODS/DIVINITIES
1. அன்னையும் பிதாவும் முன்னறி தெய்வம்.

XXX

2.TO WORSHIP IN A TEMPLE IS EXTREMELY GOOD
2. ஆலயம் தொழுவது சாலவும் நன்று.

XXX

3.THAT WHICH IS NOT DOMESTIC LIFE /FAMILY LIFE IS NOT PROPER VIRTUE
3. இல்லறம் அல்லது நல்லறம் அன்று.

XXX

4.WHAT MISERS HAVE HOARDED THE WICKED WILL TAKE

  1. ஈயார் தேட்டை தீயார் கொள்வர்.

XXX

5.MODERATION IN FOOD IS AN ORNAMENT FOR WOMEN
5. உண்டி சுருங்குதல் பெண்டிர்க்கு அழகு.

XXX

6.HATRED TOWARDS PEOPLE OF THE TOWN WILL BRING COMPLETE RUIN
6. ஊருடன் பகைக்கின் வேருடன் கெடும்.

XXX

7.NUMBERS AND LETTERS (NUMERACY AND LITERACY) ARE TWO EYES
7. எண்ணும் எழுத்தும் கண் எனத் தகும்.

XXX

8.CHILDREN WHO DO NOT REQUIRE TO BE DIRECTED (BY THEIR PARENTS) ARE LIKE AMBROSIA
8. ஏவா மக்கள் மூவா மருந்து.

XXX

9.THOUGH YOU ARE REDUCED TO BEGGARY, DO YOUR DUTY
9. ஐயம் புகினும் செய்வன செய்.

BHAGAVAD GITA:- YOUR RIGHT IS TO WORK ONLY, NEVER TO ITS FRUITS (BG 2-47)

BETTER IS ONE’S OWN  DUTY (BG 3-35)

XXX

10.RELY ON ONE MAN AND STAY IN ONE PLACE (DONT HAVE WAVERING MIND)
10. ஒருவனைப் பற்றி ஒரகத்து இரு.

TIRUKKURAL 510-TO TRUST A MAN WITHOUT A TEST AND SUSPECT A MAN AFTER HE HAS PASSED THE TEST WILL CAUSE ENDLESS MISERY

XXX

11.VIRTUOUS CONDUCT IN A BRAHMIN IS BETTER THAN THE RECITATION OF THE VEDAS
11. ஓதலின் நன்றே வேதியர்க்கு ஒழுக்கம்.

TIRUKKURAL 134-IF A BRAHMIN FORGETS VEDAS HE MAY REACQUIRE IT. BUT IF HE LOSES HIS CHARACTER HE SLIPS DOWN IN HIS RANK OF BIRTH

XXX

12.ENVIOUS TALK BRINGS DESTRUCTION TO ONE’S WEALTH
12. ஔவியம் பேசுதல் ஆக்கத்திற்கு அழிவு.

XXX

13.CAREFULLY ACQUIRE GRAIN AND MONEY
13. அஃகமும் காசும் சிக்கெனத் தேடு.

TAMIL PROVERB- GO BEYOND THE SEAS TO GET WEALTH

XXX

ககர வருக்கம் 

14.IT IS CONSIDERED CHASTITY/ GOOD VIRTUE IN A WIFE NOT TO DISOBEY HER HUSBAND
14. கற்பெனப்படுவது சொல் திறம்பாமை.

TIRUKKURAL 54-

WHAT POSSESSION OF GREATER VIRTUE CAN ONE HAVE THAN A WIFE, IF SHE BE FIRM IN HER IN HER LOYALTY TO HER PARTNER IN LIFE?

TIRUKKURAL 55-

A WIFE WHO MAY NOT WORSHIP GOD BUT WAKES UP WITH WORSHIPFUL DEVOTION TO HER HUSBAND HAS THE POWER TO MAKE RAIN FALL AT HER BIDDING

 

XXX

15.THE PRESERVATION OF HER CHASTITY IS THE ORNAMENT OF A WOMAN
15. காவல்தானே பாவையர்க்கு அழகு.

TIRUKKURAL 57-

OF WHAT USE ARE PRISON WALLS TO PROTECT A WOMAN’S VIRTUE? THE WOMAN’S POSSESSION OF A FIRM MIND IS HER BEST POSSESSION.

XXX

16.RENOUNCE AT ONCE WHAT IS DIFFICULT TO GET
16. கிட்டாதாயின் வெட்டென மற.

XXX

17.SPEAK GENTLY EVEN TO INFERIORS
17. கீழோர் ஆயினும் தாழ உரை.

TIRUKKURAL 100

USING HARSH WORDS, WHEN PLEASING WORDS ARE AVAILABLE, ISS LIKE GREEN FRUITS WHILE THERE ARE RIPE ONES.

MANU 4-138

A MAN SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH AND SPEAK WITH KINDNESS; HE SHOULD NOT TELL TE TRUTH UNKINDLY NOR UTTER LIES OUT OF KINDNESS.

XXX

18.IF YOU ARE CENSORIOUS,YOU WILL GAIN NO FRIENDS (IF YOU FIND FAULT WITH EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING, YOU LOSE ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES)
18. குற்றம் பார்க்கில் சுற்றம் இல்லை.

TIRUKKURAL 189

EVEN THE EARTH GROANS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE MAN WHO SLANDERS AT THEIR BACK.

TIRUKKURAL 190

IF A MAN CAN LOOK UPON OTHERS’ FAULTS AS HIS OWN WHAT EVIL CAN BEFALL HIM

 

XXX

19.THOUGH YOUR ARROW IS SHARP, DON’T BOAST OF YOUR VALOUR
19. கூர் அம்பு ஆயினும் வீரியம் பேசேல்.

TIRUKKURAL 439

NEVER EXTOL YOURSELF IN ANY MOOD NOR DO ANY ACT THAT IS GOOD FOR NOTHING

XXX

20.IF YOUR FRIEND BEHAVE BADLY, IT IS YOUR DUTY TO ABANDON HIM
20. கெடுவது செய்யின் விடுவது கருமம்.

TIRUKKURAL 815

IT IS BETTER TO LEAVE THAN HAVE THE FRIENDSHIP OF THE MEAN, LOW-MINDED PEOPLE THAT ARE USELESS AND UNHELPFUL

TIRUKKURAL 817

IT IS BETTER TEN FOLD TO HAVE OPEN ENEMIES THAN GIGGLING FRIENDS WHO BETRAY YOU.

XXX

  1. COURAGE IN ADVERSITY RECOVERS LOST PROPERTY
    21. கேட்டில் உறுதி கூட்டும் உடைமை.

TIRUKKURAL 622

WHEN ADVERSITY ADVANCES LIKE A FLOOD, IT VANISHES WITH A THOUGHT IN TH MIND OF THE MAN THAT IS WISE.

XXX

22.LEARNING IS BETTER THAN MONEY
22. கைப் பொருள் தன்னின் மெய்ப்பொருள் கல்வி.

TIRUKKURAL 400

LEARNING IS THE LASTING JOYFUL WEALTH; ALL OTHER MATERIAL WEALTH ARE LOST IN TIME

XXX

23.ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE KING IS A GREAT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE
23. கொற்றவன் அறிதல் உற்ற இடத்து உதவி.

XXX

24.SCANDAL IN THE EAR OF A SCANDAL MONGER IS WIND TO FIRE
24. கோள் செவிக் குறளை காற்றுடன் நெருப்பு.

TIRUKKURAL 1076

THE MEAN ARE LIKE THE DRUM THAT IS BEATEN, FOR THEY HEAR SECRETS AND BETRAY THEM.

 

THE MEAN ARE LIKE THE DRUM

XXX

25.SPEAK OF FAULTS AND BE HATEFUL TO ALL
25. கௌவை சொல்லின் எவ்வருக்கும் பகை.

TIRUKKURAL  191

ONE WHO SPEAKS USELESS WORDS THAT OTHERS DISLIKE IS DESPISED BY ALL.

TO BE CONTINUED……..

XXX SUBHAM XXX

 

 

Qualities of a Doctor and a Quack!

doctor3

Compiled  by London swaminathan

Post No.2252

Date: 17 October 2015

Time uploaded in London: 15-35

Thanks for the pictures.

Don’t use pictures. Don’t reblog for at least a week.

1.Vaidya Gunah – Qualities of a Physician

Srute paryavadaatatvam Bahuso drstakarmataa

Daakshyam Saucam iti jneya vaidye Guna chatustayam

–Charaka (sutra) 9-6

Srute paryavadaatatvam =Excellence in Medical Knowledge

Bahuso drstakarmataa = Extensive Practical Experience

Daakshyam = Skill

Saucam = Cleanliness

doctor1

2.Physician’s Approach to Patients

Vaidya Vrtti

Maitri kaarunyamaarteshu sakye pritirupekshanam

Prakrutistheshu butesu vaidyavrttischaturvidhaa

–Charaka (sutra) 9-26

Maitri = Friendship

Kaarunya = compassion

Priti = Pleasure

Upekshanam = Sympathy

doctor4

3.Fake Doctors (not to be honoured)

Apuujya Vaidyaah

Kucela: karkasa: stabhdho graamani svayamaagata:

Pancha vaidyaa na puujyante Dhanvantrisamaa api

Even if he is equal to Dhnavantri, the God of Medicine, don’t honour the following five physicians:

Kucela =Untidily dressed

Karkasa = Rough

Stabdha = Stubborn

Graamani = Pervert

Svayamaagata = One who visits on his own (uninvited)

doctor5

Tamil Wisdom on Doctors and Medicines

Great Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in his Tirukkural (Chapter 95) says

A).Let a skilful Doctor who knows medicine,

study the patient,

the nature of the disease,

the season,

then treat him

B).Medical treatment implies fourfold elements:

Patient, Doctor, Medicine and the Nurse

C).Let disease be diagnosed and its cause and let remedy be applied comfortably

D).He will be afflicted with diseases who eats immoderately.

doctor2

E).No medicine is needed for him who eats after knowing that what he has already eaten has been digested

F).If a man eats that which will not disagree with him, there will be no suffering for him.

G).As pleasure attends him who eats with studied moderation, so disease attends the glutton who eats ravenously.

-subham-

Snakes and Great Men!

pictures-of-king-cobra-snakes

The Wonder that is Tamil – Part 5

Research paper written by London Swaminathan

Research article No.1539; Dated 2 January 2015.

Tamil wisdom is rich and old. It is not different from what we find in Sanskrit literature; but the way the Tamils express their thoughts and views is different from Sanskrit. I give a rough translation of some of the beautiful poems in Tamil about great men.

Tamil poetess Avvaiyar says, “Broken clay pot is useless; broken gold pot is still useful!”

If a clay pot is broken you have to throw it into the bin. If a gold pot is broken, no one throws it into dustbin. They melt it and remake the pot. Great men are like gold pots. Even if something goes wrong with the great, they are still worthy of respect.

light house

Light House on top of the Hill!

If the bad people do many wrongs again and again, they are not going to earn any (new) bad name. But if great men commit even if one mistake it will be like a light house on top of the hill. Everybody will know it. Everyone will talk about it- – From Tamil book “Pazamozi Four Hundred”

Moon and Great men

Shining moon and great men are similar except one small difference. Moon can bear the spots (hare or deer) on it. But great men can’t bear such spots in their life! –  from Tamil book Naaladiyar.

The moon is bright and shining. Great men are also bright and shining.

The moon is cool. Great men are also full of mercy.

Moon has spots; great men have no spots. Their life is pure and immaculate; faultless and without moral blemishes.

Moon can bear the spots, but yet it wanes and waxes (out of regret). Scholars can’t bear it. Once there are black spots in their lives, they will sacrifice their lives.

Valluvar on Moon

“The faults in men of good families will show up conspicuously like dark spots

On the bright moon that traverses the sky” – Kural 957

“The shortcomings, if any, in the expected good behaviour of men, hailing from good old families, will be so rare and eye catching, that these will be prominently exposed to public gaze, like the dark spots on the surface of the bright moon that travels across the blue sky. It is known that persons of public status have no private lives of their own; every misdemeanour of theirs is highlighted as big failings before public”, says Dr S M Diaz in his commentary on this couplet.

moon

 

Kalidasa on Moon

It is interesting that the greatest of Indian classical poets Kalidasa, while describing the Himalayas, says

“Snow could not be a destroyer of beauty in the case of  him who is the source of  countless jewels; for, one blemish is lost in a host of  virtues, like the  spot on the moon (los) in her rays” – Kumarasambhava 1-3

Valluvar on yak

“Hair lost, the yak lives not. Honour lost, noble men leave their life” – Kural 969

The legendary yak is believed to give up its life, when it loses its hairs. Great men also will not live if they lose their honour.

Snake-5_1421019i

Snake and Great men

Three poets sang about great men and poisonous snakes

Even if poisonous snakes enter an assembly of scholars it will pass through them unscathed. They won’t hurt them, says a poem in Pazamozi Four Hundred. Even the Sangam Tamil Literature (Neithal kali, Kali Tokai) gave the same message.

Another poet ( of Tamil book “Aranerisaram” ) viewed the snakes differently. He says, look at this, If you give water to a cow it gives you milk; but if you give milk to a cobra, it produces poison! Likewise the books read by bad people are interpreted negatively. The same books read by the great people are interpreted positively”.

The best examples for this poem are our Vedas and the Epics. Foreigners who read these books interpreted them negatively. They are like snakes that convert milk into poison. The great Tamil kings Chera, Chola and Pandyas fostered Vedas and Vedic Yajnas for over 2000 years according to Sangam Tamil Literature. In the North, more Asvamedha Yajnas and Rajasuyas were done. Vedas are viewed positively in Kalidasa’s works and Sangam Tamil works. They are like cows that turns water into milk.

northern-water-snake

image of water snake

When Duryodhana and Yudhistra were asked to identify the worst person and the best person in the world, Yudhistra came back to Krishna and reported everyone was good. Duryodhana came back and told Krishna he could not see one good person in the whole wide world; all people were bad. So, if you ask foreigners to identify anything good in Hindu scriptures, they would act like Duryodhana.

Tamil poetess Avvaiyar in her book Vakkundaam compared water snake to good people and cobra to bad people. She says that the water snake is not poisonous and it lies openly on the banks of rivers and lakes. But the cobra is poisonous and so it hides in the holes. Good people don’t fear any one, bad people fear others and lead a secret life! They pretend to be good.

Tamil and Sanskrit poets are great lovers of nature. Like Dattatreya they learn and teach us using natural objects!

Please read my posts:-

The Connection between William Wordsworth and Dattatreya, — posted on 10th November 2011.

contact swami_48@yahoo.com