Thirukkural-On Virtue-Impermanence Of The World-Kural 338

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The nexus between soul and body is as between the fledgeling bird And its erstwhile nest, from which it flies away.

Actually the young bird flies away into the air even happily, from its nest, as Rajaji would comment. In like manner, the earth is but a temporary abode for the soul in its passage through eternity.

The word 'Kudambai' means 'Koodu' and could, therefore, be interpreted either as 'shell' or 'nest'. Parimelalagar prefers the former, while Manakudavar and Kalingar plumb for the latter. Parithiar covers both in his interpretation. I have used the word nest.

'Aganaanooru' has the exact parallel to this Kural as below:

'.....paraarai
alangkalanchinaik kudambai pullaenap
Pulam paeyar marungir pulaelunthaangu
Maeipivan oliyap poagiyavar
Saeivinai marungir saeleeiyar en uyirae' (Aganaanooru 113; 23-27)

A more recent parallel is provided by Longfellow in the 'Slave's Dream,'

'For Death had illumined the land of sleep
and his lifeless body lay
A worn out fetter, that the soul
Had broken and thrown away.