Thirukkural-On Wealth-On Listening To The Wise-Kural-415

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The instructions that flow from learned men of righteous conduct,

constitute a firm staff on slippery ground, to the learner.

A good teacher should not only be learned himself but he should be one who leads a good life, practicing his precepts. In other words, he should provide a role-model for the learner, showing the way in observing his own counsel.

For quite a bit of the distorted behaviour among the youth of today, the disparity between 'promise and performance", as well as the dichotomy between 'profession and practice" among the parents, teachers, social and political leaders, is clearly responsible.

In kural 414, the staff is a source of strength in physical fatigue but in Kural 415 the counsel of the righteous provides a strong staff, which gives a firm hold, even when traversing morally slippery ground, according to V V S Iyer & K M Balasubramaniam.