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Thirukkural-On Virtue-True Knowledge-Kural 354

Thirukkural-Kural 354

Aiyunarvu eythiyak kannum payaminrae
Meyyunarvu illaa thavarkku

All the knowledge, acquired out of the five senses, will be of no avail,
If it is not accompanied by true understanding.

The above is in line with the interpretation of Manakudavar. But Parimelalagar refers to the unified control secured by the mind, over the independent activities of the five senses. The latter idea is adopted also in the following passage of 'kambaramayanam'

"Adakkum aimporiyoadu kaanathap puram
Kadakkum vaalunar vinukanukum kaatchiyaan"

All the wide knowledge acquired by the perceptions of the five senses will not be of any use to the person, who does not activise his mind as a central control tower, where all the information coming from the various senses are collected, collated, assessed against reason and evaluated into an integrated pattern of genuine perception and true understanding.

For, as Kahlil Gibran would say, Knowledge and Reason are like body and soul and only when they act in union, true understanding results.

Story first published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 11:47 [IST]