Tirukkural-On Virtue-On Right Conduct-Kural 134

Add as a preferred source on Google

The following translation and comments are based on Rajaji's:

The Brahmin who has forgotten his scriptures could read them up again;But if he neglects right conduct he will lose his birth-right.

According to the caste system regulated society in the days of Thiruvalluvar, it was the Brahmin's duty then to study and teach, principally the Vedas and other religious literature.Ignorance or neglect of the prescribed studies, was a grave offence for the Brahmin. But such lapses or forgetfulness could be made up by fresh application. But if he fell into the error of neglecting the regulation of life and the right conduct prescribed for him, he could not regain his position at all. Therefore it was a greater offence for him to neglect the discipline of life prescribed for him.

This line is in keeping with Parimelalagar's interpretation of this Kural. In order to emphasise that it is the prime duty of the Brahmin to learn and teach the scriptures and that any lapse in this regard is a serous matter, the poet used the expression 'Marapinum', 'even if he forgets', specially to bring out the implication that right conduct is more important than learning. This couplet in fact is an amplification of the previous Kural 133. Moliere's statement that 'Birth is nothing where virtue is not' is relevant here.

Whether the term 'Paarpaan' refers to Brahmin has given rise to some controversy. It could mean just any learned man. But, as in those days, it was the profession of the Brahmins to learn and teach, there is no harm in accepting the meaning of Brahmin. Similar usage is found in 'Innaa Naarpadhu' as below.

Inna Othilla Paarpaan urai

The same idea is amplified also in Silapathikaram.

Valuvil kolkai marainool valakathup
Purinool maarpar uraipadhi

When the Psalmist spoke about entering the gates of righteousness and praising the Lord in the following passage, obviously he had in mind those whose duty it is to learn and teach religion and so praise God. It is a pre-requisite for such activity to be righteous and practice the righteous and practise the right conduct:

'Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go into them and I will praise the lord.'

(Psalms 119:19)