Thirukkural-On Virtue-True Knowledge-Kural 351

Friday, February 5, 2010, 13:54

Porulalla vatraip porulenru unarum
Marulaan aam maanap pirappu

The miseries of birth and life on earth arise out of the delusion,
Of mistaking the worthless things, as of true value.

All our sorrows in this world stem from the fact that wee seek to build our life on a set of evanescent and even false values. Only a life based on true values has the potential for ultimate deliverance.

Parimelalagar interprets 'Maanaa Pirappu" as joyless birth, while Manakudavar would prefer the meaning of'worthless birth". The latter appears more appropriate.

Only a controlled mind can break out of the nets of delusion and concentrate on Self along severely, thus becoming steadfast in the same manner 'as a lamp in a spot sheltered from the wind does not flicker".

'Then would follow naturally the practice of Yoga and ultimately God-realisation in the Gita sequence." (Gita 6,19)