98.1 Greatness

 98.1 Greatness

 

Question:

            How do people differ from one another?

 

Answer:

All human beings are equal by birth, but distinctions arise only

on the basis of performance in their respective positions.                (Couplet – 952)

பிறப்பொக்கும் எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் சிறப்பொவ்வா

செய்தொழில் வேற்றுமை யான்.                                  (குறள் – 972)

 

Explanation:

During the time of Valluvar, the Vedic idea that people in the world belonged to four distinct classes had already begun to have its roots in Indian society, including Tamil society. The four classes were the priestly class (Brahmins), the warrior class (Kshatriyas), the business class (Vaisyas), and the class of laborers (Sudras). Of these four classes, the Brahmins were considered the most superior; next in the hierarchy were the Kshatriyas, the Vaisyas, and the Sudras, respectively. In addition to these four classes, there was a class of people called Panchamars who were considered untouchable and lower than the four upper classes. The class of an individual was determined by the family in which he was born, and there was no provision for migration from one class to another. Valluvar disagreed with this hierarchical structure of society and proposed that all are equal by birth. In such a class-based society, it was indeed revolutionary on the part of Valluvar to proclaim that “All are equal by birth.” 

 

In Couplet 972, Valluvar asserts that the distinction between people lies in their deeds rather than in birth. This bold rejection of hierarchical stratification of society by Valluvar was made almost 2,000 years before the Declaration of Independence by the US Continental Congress, which states, “All men are created equal.”

 

 

 

98.2 Greatness

 98.2 Greatness

 

Question:

What is the criterion for judging a person as great?

Answer:

A person placed high by virtue of the class in which he was

born may not be really great. So also, a person placed low by

 virtue of the class in which he was born may not be really low.      (Couplet – 973)

Men obtain greatness from the propriety of conduct. The

 impropriety of conduct results in untold disgrace.                           (Couplet – 137)

 

 

மேலிருந்தும் மேலல்லார் மேலல்லர் கீழிருந்தும்

கீழல்லார் கீழல் லவர்.                                                                          (குறள் – 973)

ஒழுக்கத்தின் எய்துவர் மேன்மை இழுக்கத்தின்

எய்துவர் எய்தாப் பழி.                                                                         (குறள் – 137)

 

Explanation:

            In Couplet 972, Valluvar categorically says that all are equal by birth. So, it is clear that Valluvar rejects the hierarchical class structure proposed in the Vedas. In couplet 973, Valluvar says that people regarded as great by virtue of the class in which they were born may not be really great, and those regarded low by birth may not be really low. But then, is there a criterion by which one is considered great or not so great? Yes, there is. The test for judging someone as great or not is whether that person has good character or not. One with good character is great, and the one without good character is low. 

98.3 Greatness

 98.3 Greatness

Question:

            What can a man do to maintain his greatness?

 

Answer:

Greatness will be intact with a man if he guards himself

from promiscuity Ilike a chaste woman.                                (Couplet – 974)

ஒருமை மகளிரே போலப் பெருமையும்

தன்னைத்தான் கொண்டொழுகி                        (குறள் – 974)

 

Explanation:

            From Tholkaapiyam and Sangam literature, we see that prostitution was prevalent in Tamil society and was not condemned. Men frequenting prostitutes and having concubines were not uncommon. However, for all women who were not prostitutes, chastity was considered the greatest of all virtues. But chastity was not considered a virtue for men to practice. Of course, this was a double standard. Valluvar was the first scholar/philosopher to condemn male promiscuity. In Couplet 974, Valluvar says that for a man to be considered great, he should be chaste like a chaste woman, avoid all contact with prostitutes, and avoid sexual relationships with all other women except his wife. 

97.1 Honor

 97.1 Honor

Question:

            How should an honorable man conduct himself?

 

Answer:

Even if it leads to enormous glory, one should avoid

 dishonorable deeds.                                                                          (Couplet – 961)

Those who seek fame with honor will never stoop

to dishonorable deeds, even if such acts would get

 them fame.                                                                                        (Couplet – 961)

 

இன்றி அமையாச் சிறப்பின ஆயினும்

குன்ற வருப விடல்.                                                                    (குறள் – 961)

சீரினும் சீரல்ல செய்யாரே சீரொடு

பேராண்மை வேண்டு பவர்.                                                  (குறள் – 962)

Explanation:

            The central idea in couplets 961 and 962 is that honorable people will never stoop to mean acts that would degrade their honor, even if such acts would lead to glory. The same idea is found in poem 182 of Puranaanuuru, where the Pandya king Katalul Maaintha Ilamperuvazuthi (கடலுள் மாய்ந்த இளம்பெருவழுதி) explains the means of existence of the world[1]. He says the reason for the existence of this world is that there are selfless people who never exert their powerful energies for themselves but only for others. They would even give their lives for fame but would not accept fame with dishonor were it to gain them all the world.

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[1]. உண்டால் அம்ம இவ்வுலகம்! இந்திரர்

 அமிழ்தம் இயைவ தாயினும், இனிதுஎனத்

 தமியர் உண்டலும் இலரே; முனிவிலர்;

 துஞ்சலும் இலர்; பிறர் அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சிப்

 புகழ்எனின் உயிருங் கொடுக்குவர்; பழியெனின்        5

 உலகுடன் பெறினும் கொள்ளலர்; அயர்விலர்;

 அன்ன மாட்சி அனைய ராகித்

 தமக்கென முயலா நோன்தாள்

 பிறர்க்கென முயலுநர் உண்மை யானே.

                                    (கடலுள் மாய்ந்த இளம்பெருவழுதி, புறநானூறு – 182)

 

 

97.2 Honor

 97.2 Honor

Question:

      What happens to great people if they commit a vile act?

Answer:

Great people of high status will sink to nothing if they

commit even the slightest fault.                                             (Couplet – 965)

People who have fallen off from their noble status

will rate as hair fallen off from the head.                               (Couplet – 964)

 

குன்றின் அனையாரும் குன்றுவர் குன்றுவ

குன்றி அனைய செயின்.                                                    (குறள் – 965)

தலையின் இழிந்த மயிரனையர் மாந்தர்

நிலையின் இழிந்தக் கடை.                                               (குறள் – 964)

 

Explanation:

Valluvar states in Couplet 957 that the faults of the noble will be exposed conspicuously, like the dark spots on the moon. Because great people occupy exalted positions in society, many quickly notice their faults and are readily subject to criticism. Even simple mistakes and slips of the tongue of famous people are often caught quickly and ridiculed. For example, when Vice President Dan Quale of the USA misspelled potato, he became the laughingstock of the media. When the US Presidential candidate  Barack Obama said he had gone to all 57 states of the USA, he was ridiculed by the press and others. When President Joe Biden was in Cambodia, he said he was in Columbia. The TV channels, social media, and the press immediately questioned his cognitive ability to serve as the President of the USA. Of course, President Donald Trump had his share of gaffes which were fodder to the media.

 

     Although simple blunders are readily noticed and criticized, they don’t have a lasting impact on great people. At the same time, significant errors of judgment and misbehavior have more severe consequences on prominent people. For example, When US President Richard Nixon authorized the break-in at his political opponent’s headquarters and lied about it, he lost all credibility as President and had to resign. Also, when President Bill Clinton had an affair with an intern at the White House, he was the object of contempt; he was impeached and lost his license to practice law forever. Because of the severity of the impact of major ignoble acts, Valluvar says when people commit despicable acts, they are like hair that is fallen off the head. When the hair is on the head, it adds beauty to people’s appearance. However, the hair that has fallen off the head is considered unwanted dirt. So also, when great people commit ignoble acts, they fall precipitously from their prominence and lose the respect and admiration of others. 

97.3 Honor

 97.3 Honor

Question:

      What happens to honorable people when they lose their honor?

Answer:

Just like a yak that dies when it loses its hair, noble people will

die if they lose their honor.                                                    (Couplet – 969)

 

மயிர்நீப்பின் வாழாக் கவரிமா அன்னார்

உயிர்நீப்பர் மானம் வரின்.                                                       (குறள் – 969)

 

Explanation:

            The yak is a species of cattle with highly dense, long hair that hangs down lower than its belly and is found throughout the Himalayan region. The long hair protects the yak from the severe cold weather of the Himalayan region. Unable to withstand the cold weather, the yak will die if it loses its hair. For the yak, its hair is a real asset. So also, men of honor consider their honor as their real asset. In Couplet 969, Valluvar says that men of honor will die when they lose their honor, just like the yak that dies if it loses its hair.

            In poem 74 in Puranaanuuru, we hear about the death of a king who preferred to die rather than endure an insult he encountered while imprisoned after his defeat. Cheran Kanaikkaal Irumporai (சேரமான் கணைக்கால் இரும்பொறை) was defeated in a war against the Chola king Senganaan (சோழன் செங்கணான்). After his defeat, the Chera king was imprisoned. While in prison, he felt thirsty and asked the prison guards to get him some water. They delayed bringing water to him. The king felt insulted, and he wrote a poem[1]. In that poem, he says, “It is my family tradition to die only after being killed on a battlefield. Even if a child was stillborn or was born just as a mass of flesh, in our families, it is customary to cut it with a sword before disposing of it. I am from such a chivalrous family. Here I am, suffering like a dog in a chain, begging to be given a little water by these people without generosity. Did my parents give birth to me for this?”

The king is supposed to have died after writing the poem. In this poem, we see an example illustrating what Valluvar says in Couplet 969.

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[1].குழவி இறப்பினும் ஊன்தடி பிறப்பினும்

 ஆள்அன்று என்று வாளின் தப்பார்

 தொடர்ப்படு ஞமலியின் இடர்ப்படுத்து இரீஇய

 கேளல் கேளிர் வேளாண் சிறுபதம்,

 மதுகை இன்றி, வயிற்றுத்தீத் தணியத்                               5

 தாம்இரந்து உண்ணும் அளவை

 ஈன்ம ரோஇவ் உலகத் தானே?

                                                (சேரமான் கணைக்கால் இரும்பொறை, புறநானூறு – 74)