Thirukkural-On Wealth-On Education-Kural 391

Whatever is to be learnt should be learnt flawlessly so that
The learning imbibed shapes one"s conduct.

Valluvar"s mandate in this regard is against slipshod and superficial learning. A subject, that deserves study, certainly calls for a detailed and in-depth study in all its aspects, without any fault or doubt whatsoever. And what is even more important is the importance of regulating one"s conduct and behavioural norms, in other words, of shaping one"s character, in accordance with the Dharma imbibed during the course of such learning.

The idea of locating and internalizing the kernel or true essence of what is to be learnt, i.e. 'Meypporul' irrespective of the intrinsic nature of the subject taken up for study, its external embellishments, and finally irrespective of who has made the statement, has been effectively brought out by Valluvar in Kurals 355 & 423. This Kural outlines the right method for doing this and the appropriate follow-up thereafter.

In this Kural, the words & sounds of the exhortation, for thoroughness of learning & appropriate behaviour to follow, have been chosen in a manner that makes the injunction, firm, powerful and mandatory; all hard sounds, nothing mellifluous about it!

It is also significant that Valluvar has placed Education, platonic fashion, immediately after kingship, emphasizing in the first place, the importance of education for a king. Plato preferred philosopher kings, but it is also known that the Greek rulers had great teachers. Alexander the Great, for instance, had Aristotle for his teacher. Valluvar"s injunction will also apply to learning by all men, particularly the learned. A parallel to be had is this in Araneri, much later probably quoting this Kural itself.

“Yepirapaayinum yaemaap poruvarkku
makat pirapil piridhilai-Apirappil
Katralum, katravai kaetalum, kaetadhankann
Nitralum koodap paerin" (Araneri 141)