14. 1 Right Conduct

 14. 1 Right Conduct 

Question:

What is right conduct?

Answer:

 

It is part of wisdom to conform to the ways of the world.                 (Couplet – 426) 

 

Those who fail to conduct themselves in harmony with the world

are ignorant despite their vast learning.                                                 (Couplet - 140) 

 

எவ்வ துறைவது உலகம் உலகத்தோடு

அவ்வ துறைவ தறிவு.                                        (குறள் - 426)

 

உலகத்தோடு ஒட்ட ஒழுகல் பலகற்றும்

கல்லார் அறிவிலா தார்.                                       (குறள் – 140)

 

 

Explanation:

According to Valluvar, right conduct is what is determined as the right conduct by the world. But there are no uniform standards for right conduct in the world. However, different countries and cultures have their own codes of conduct. Therefore, it makes sense to interpret the word “world” as that part of the world where one lives instead of the whole world. Further, what was considered the right conduct in the past may not be regarded as the proper conduct at present. For example, child marriages were not unusual in India about two centuries ago. Now, it is against the law, and therefore, it is not right conduct for someone to marry a child. Also, in India, widow re-marriage was unacceptable in the past. Today, it is not uncommon. In the past, having a child out of wedlock was considered shameful and unacceptable by American society. As of 2008, about 40.6 percent of children were born out of wedlock, and their number is increasing. So, right conduct is a function of the community where one lives and the time in which one lives. Valliuvar is of the opinion that those who do not live in harmony with the world are ignorant despite their vast learning.