Tirukkural-On Virtue-The Glory Of Renunciation-Kural 30

Those who are merciful are really the men of virtue, because they have compassion for all living creatures.

The truly great sages are those whose compassion covers, in its sweep, all living things on earth. Parimelalagar has given the most acceptable and delightful interpretation of the word, 'Andhanar = Am + dhan + Ar", which according to him, means, the men actuated by 'warmly" beautiful mercy. I have used the word 'warmly" according to English usage but the actual expression here is 'dhan " referring to the welcome 'cold" in a warm climate.

Manakudavar differs and takes the superficial meaning of 'Brahmin". I would rather agree with Parimelalagar. The idea then would be that, only the men who are actuated by the beautiful quality of mercy, as described by Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice, would be the real sages of the world. The Jain and Buddhist sages particularly set the pattern for such conduct, for they were concerned, 'not for men alone, but for all things which, speechless, share our pain'..