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Hebrew Proverbs and
Ancient Tamil Proverbs
Book of Proverbs and Tirukural:
A Study in Comparison
Contents
I. Introduction
II. Tirukural: An Overview
III. Proverbs and Tirukural: A Comparison
IV. Proverbs and Tirukural: Commonalities
and Differences
V. Place of Tirukural among Tamils Today
VI. Conclusion
VII. Resources
HEBREW TAMIL
I. INTRODUCTION
Book of Proverbs contains a
dedicated collection of Hebrew
proverbs in the Old Testament.
Tiru-ku-ral is selected from among
the ancient Tamil literatures for
comparative study, because of its
ancient-ness, pithiness and its
continued influence upon Tamils
until today as a major moral force.
Both books have universal flavor
and appeal to morality, social-
responsibility, right-living, etc.
TAMILNADU
(Land of Tamils)
II. TIRUKURAL: AN OVERVIEW
Prof. Kamil Zvelebil on Tirukural Tamil Scholar, Czech Republic
Thirukkural is a contribution
of the Tamil creative genius
to the world cultural treasure
and should be familiar to the
whole world and admired and
beloved by all in the same
way as the poems of Homer,
the dramas of Shakespeare,
the pictures of Rembrandt,
the cathedrals of France and
the sculptures of Greece
Tirukural: What is It? Tiru-ku-ral is the oldest secular collection of proverbs /
sayings in Tamil Language, one of the two classical
languages in India (other language is Sanskrit).
THE most-translated Indian book
Author = Tiru-vallu-var, a Tamil Philosopher
Tirukural dated around 2nd cent BC
Tiru = Honourable;
Kural = Proverbial poems / couplet
Tirukural is also known as
Tamil Marai Tamil Scriptures
Poy-ya-mozhi Infallible Sayings
Uttara vedam Greatest Veda
Deiva Nool Divine Book
. OVERVIEW
133 chapters and 1330 couplets
3 Major Divisions
Aram (Virtue) Focuses on
character, discipline (1-38
chapters)
Porul (Wealth) Focuses on
the world outside; social
relationships, etc (39-108)
Inbam (Love) Focuses on
love, lust, heart-break and
reunion (109-133 chapters)
Without
disciplined
character,
one cannot
meaningfully
contribute to
the society
around and
experience
the virtues of
love.
cont. OVERVIEW
All kurals / couplets contains 7 words:
4 words in the first line
3 words in the second line
The first Kural begins with Aa/ (first letter) and the last kural (1330th) ends with in/ (the 246th/last letter of Tamil alphabets)
III. PROVERBS AND
TIRUKURAL: A COMPARISON
SELECTED THEMES
1. God
2. Family
3. Pleasant Speech
4. Gratitude
5. Against
Covetousness
6. Compassion
7. Anger / Evil
8. Learning
9. Knowledge of
Power, Time, Place
10. Determination
11. Governance / King
12. Friendship
13. Folly
14. Not Drinking
15. Praise and Pain of
Love
1. God (Tirukural)
(1)
Aka-ra Mu-dha-la Ezhu-thel-laam Aa-dhi
Pa-ka-van Mu-dha-tre Ula-ku
As the letter A is the first of all letters, so the eternal
God is first in the world
(2)
Katradhanaal Aaya Payanenkol Vaalarivan
Natraal Thozhaaar Enin
Education is meaningless when it does not lead to the
worship of true God
God (Tirukural) (3)
Malarmisai Ekinaan Maanati Serndhaar
Nilamisai Neetuvaazh Vaar
Those who hold on to the feet of God shall flourish
longer on the earth.
(7)
Thanakkuvamai Illaadhaan Thaalserndhaark Kallaal
Manakkavalai Maatral Aridhu
Unless we unite ourselves with the incomprehensible God,
it is impossible to remove endless anxiety from our minds.
God in Proverbs References: 1:7, 3:4,5,7,9, 8:13,
9:10, 10:27, 15:3, 28:14, etc
God as the Creator of everything
(3:19, 8:22), so acknowledge Him.
God is present and administers the
entire universe.
Fear of the Lord is the central theme.
Seeking wisdom without fearing God
is folly (1:7).
It relates every human conducts, and
responses in relation to the Lord.
God-centred world-view
2. Family (45)
Anpum Aranum Utaiththaayin Ilvaazhkkai
Panpum Payanum Adhu
Family life, motivated by love and virtue, endows it with
usefulness and happiness.
(55)
Theyvam Thozhaaal Kozhunan Thozhudhezhuvaal
Peyyenap Peyyum Mazhai
If a wife, who does not worship God, but her husband,
say, "let it rain," it will rain.
Family (Tirukural) (66)
Kuzhal Inidhu Yaazhinidhu Enpadham Makkal
Mazhalaichchol Kelaa Thavar
"The pipe is sweet, the lute is sweet," say those who
have not paid attention to the prattle of their own children
(72)
Anpilaar Ellaam Thamakkuriyar Anputaiyaar
Enpum Uriyar Pirarkku
The loveless ones want all for themselves; the tender-
hearted will give all they have for others.
Family (Proverbs) References: 4:18-19, 12:4,
15:27, 17:6, 18:22, 19:4, 31:10 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (12:4)
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and
a prudent wife is from the LORD (19:4)
Proverbs assures that having a
good family is Gods blessing
Wives role is emphasised (31:)
Children are to be guided in right
path and discipline emphasised
Gods word as base for family
Its main context of teaching is
family, evidenced in its use of
father, mother, son, etc.
3. Pleasant Speech (Tirukural) (92)
Akanamarndhu Eedhalin Nandre Mukanamarndhu
Insolan Aakap Perin
Sweet speech, with a cheerful countenance is better
than a gift made with a joyous mind
(95)
Panivutaiyan Insolan Aadhal Oruvarku
Aniyalla Matrup Pira
Humility and sweetness of speech are the ornaments of
man; all others are not (ornaments)
Pleasant Speech (Tirukural) (98)
Sirumaiyul Neengiya Insol Marumaiyum
Immaiyum Inpam Tharum
Sweet speech, free from harm to others, will give
pleasure both in this world and in the next
(100)
Iniya Ulavaaka Innaadha Kooral
Kaniiruppak Kaaikavarn Thatru
To say unplesant things when plesant words are at hand
is like eating unriped fruit when there is well-riped fruit
Pleasant Speech (Proverbs) References: 10:20, 12:18,
15:49, 16:24, 24:26, 25:11 Pleasant words are pure (15:26b)
Pleasant words are as honeycomb (16:23)
Proverbs contrasts wise words
vs. foolish talk (16:13)
Wisdom is knowing how to
speak, when to speak, whom to
speak, etc (17:27, 29:20).
It warns people to keep away
from bad speech slander,
flattery, perversity, lying (6:12b)
4. Gratitude
(102)
Kaalaththi Naarseydha Nandri Siridheninum
Gnaalaththin Maanap Peridhu
A favour conferred in the time of need, though it be small
(in itself), is (in value) much larger than the world
(106)
Maravarka Maasatraar Kenmai Thuravarka
Thunpaththul Thuppaayaar Natpu
Forsake not the friendship of those who stood with you in
adversity; Forget not be benevolence of the blameless.
Gratitude (Tirukural) (108)
Nandri Marappadhu Nandrandru Nandralladhu
Andre Marappadhu Nandru
Forget not any benefits received; Forget an injury even
in the very inflicted moment
(110)
Ennandri Kondraarkkum Uyvuntaam Uyvillai
Seynnandri Kondra Makarku
A killer of every virtue may yet eternal rest; but not for
the killers of the virtue of gratitude.
Gratitude (Proverbs) References: 17:13
If a man pays back evil for good,
evil will never leave his house
Proverbs points out the
importance of reciprocating
gratitude
Its advice to remember
implies grateful recollection of
received wisdom
5. Against Covetousness (146)
Pakaipaavam Achcham Pazhiyena Naankum
Ikavaavaam Illirappaan Kan
Hatred, sin, fear, disgrace; these four will never leave
him who goes in to his neighbour's wife
(148)
Piranmanai Nokkaadha Peraanmai Saandrorkku
Aranondro Aandra Vozhukku
It is noble manliness not to look at the wife of another.
This is the virtue and dignity of the great [men].
Against Covetousness (173)
Sitrinpam Veqki Aranalla Seyyaare
Matrinpam Ventu Pavar
Those who desire the higher pleasures (of heaven) will
not covet unjustly (in this life).
(175)
Aqki Akandra Arivennaam Yaarmaattum
Veqki Veriya Seyin
What is the advantage of extensive knowledge/learning if
a man is covetous and acts senselessly?
Against Covetousness (Proverbs)
R
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