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Tirukforbearance,thirukkural-On Virtue-Forbearance-forbearance,thirukkural 155

By Staff

Thirukforbearance,thirukkural In English, forbearance,thirukkural 153
Orutharai onraaha vaiyaare vaippar
Poruthaaraip ponpoar pothindhu.

Knowing people will not esteem the vengeful one,But they will value forbearance as gold.

People of discernment will hold in great esteem those who are capable of forgiving and forgetting a wrong done to them; on the other hand they will not give any credit to the person who practises vengeance.

It was no wonder, therefore, that Shakespeare himself said 'The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance'. Francis Bacon, to whom some people would attribute the works of Shakespeare, also said, 'In taking revenge a man is equal to his enemy, but in passing it over he is his superior'.

The Lord, Jesus said 'Ye have heard that it has been said, 'An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth'. But I say unto you. That Ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also'.
(Matt 6: 38-39)

And he went on to add that loving your enemies, blessing them that curse you and doing good to them that hate you is the way of the Father (i.e.) of Godliness. Here again the difference with Valluvar is that he proceeds with his practical dictums from a purely rational angle, detached from any religious linkage.

Story first published: Thursday, April 2, 2009, 14:44 [IST]
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