குறளின் குரல் - 8

April 11, 2012

One of the things that I am truly interested in, while reading this monumental work of vaLLuvaர் (வள்ளுவர்), is to understand the thought behind the categorization of these verses in certain chapters/division/sub-division. Was it done by him or by later day commentators?

Today, we are looking at the verse from the “veguLamai adikAram”(வெகுளாமை அதிகாரம்) in the major division of “araththuppAl”(Dharma), sub-division, “thuRaviyal” (துறவறவியல்).

I am sure, vaLLuvar was very observant of the nature of the world; most of the elevated virtues he has stipulated are mostly for the people that have chosen austere path. It is very apparent that he did not expect the entire world to be devoid of unreasonable anger as it is not practical.

Most of us have read the story of “kongaNava rishi” irked by the bird’s waste dropping on him, burning it to ashes by his very stern look, and subsequently going to the village for his “picchai” (bhikshA/பிச்சை/ பிக்ஷாவந்தனம்). When the lady in the house, he was standing before, took time to serve her husband and come a little later to give konkaNavar the alms, konkaNavar was extremely angry that he was kept waiting and gave a stern look at the lady, to which that chaste lady, said, “Did you think, I am also  like the poor innocent bird that burnt in the forest?”.  konkanavar was shell shocked wondering how she could have known the episode and at once realized that the chaste women were far above the petty anger of anyone, even by the person of high powers attained through severe penance.

Anger has its place in common life in many genuine cases and for right reasons; as an example, people rising against the bad ruler, is just and right. Most of us show it where it is convenient for us to show anger  and the retaliation is none. In places our anger has no value or respect or even would adversely affect us, claiming that we applied restraint is laughable!

“செல்லிடத்துக் காப்பான் சினங்காப்பான் அல்லிடத்துக்

காக்கின்என் காவாக்கா லென்?.”

                                            (kuraL:301:  வெகுளாமை அதிகாரம்)

sellidaththu – where your power can mute the weak

kAppAn = being restrained

sinam kAppAn – is the  one who knows how to control anger at the appropriate place.

allidathu – In other places (like, anger before the powerful, injustice or where your anger has

                   no value or will cause you harm in retaliation!)

kAkkin en? – boast that restraint was applied!

kavAkkAl en? – or did not apply restraint, as if it would have mattered!

The last word of this kurAl has a well placed sarcasm, implying that there is no point in being vainglorious and show off as if you had a choice!  

In another kuraL, in chapter “nIththAr perumai (நீத்தார் பெருமை – பாயிரவியல்), he says,

“குணமென்னும் குன்றேறி நின்றார் வெகுளி

கணமேயும் காத்தல் அரிது.”

While we look at this later on in detail,  this kuraL supports the thought that the people of austere life that are at the pinnacle of virtuous character, cannot hold their anger even for a second, even in those rare cases of instigated anger they may get. In other words he implies it is impossible for them to get angry in the first place and if they do, it will be gone in no time.

“True restraint of anger is, where it can adversely affect

 Vain glorious can claim restraint where it has no effect”

இன்றெனது குறள்:

கொள்ளற்க கோபம்  கொளலிடம் தேர்ந்தன்றி

எள்ளுதற்கே யாகும் வழி