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