Tirukkural - On Virtue - In Praise Of Rain - Kural - 17

1. Netunkadalum tanneermai kunrum, tadintelilli
   taanalkaa taaki vidin.

If the clouds produced by the sea fail in their bounty, even the wealth of the sea will shrink..

Drought affects not only life on earth but also in the seas, which in that case, will also lose much of their wealth. All commentators

are agreed to explaining the expression 'Tan Neermai' which directly means their nature," but would refer to the wealth of living creatures like fish that inhabit the seas and the valuable treasure like "pearls and corals that are found there". In fact, it was the belief of an old community, which knew all about peals and corals, that if rains fail in April-May, pearl-formation would suffer and if such failure occurs in October " November, coral -conception would be affected.

Parimelalagar refers in this connection to Paripadal " 20, wherein there is reference to the idea of the seas reducing the depth of water and their treasures, when it says.

'Kadal Kurai Padutha Neer Kall Kuraipada Vaerithu'