Tiruvalluvar, the ancient thinker wrote couplets in Tamil between 2 BCE—5 CE. He wrote these short (Kural) pieces and they were compiled into the Tirukkural (honored Kurals). Their meaning is relevant and enables us to understand the ordinary moral code.

The Fort

749 — The fort should halt the foe at first sight,
With its inbuilt glory and might.

750 — Be its wall ever so stout the fort is one stone heap
If its command is in weak hands and the garrison’s become sheep.

The name of Goddess Durga originates from the root word Durgam, which means difficult to approach or a fortress that is hard to scale. The spiritual definition is the one who rescues devotees from extreme difficulties and destroys fear, misfortune and evil. We can understand the importance of the fort in our protection.

Wealth

753 — Wealth is a lamp that travels far spreading its lustrous glow
Darkness dispelling, notice compelling, it shines on its owner.

754 — If earned honestly
And used modestly
Wealth can elevate
It’s owner’s social state.

755 — But wrenching wealth off another is foul
If you do that you are a ghoul.

757 — Wealth as a giving purse
Can foster grateful love
So, it can, in a sense, play nurse
And a noble purpose serve.

In Hinduism, wealth is divine and Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth and abundance is revered by all. Wealth is supposed to serve the aims of God and not evil beings. However, in Kali Yuga much of the wealth is controlled by evil forces. When service becomes the motive, wealth becomes a divine tool and leads to good ends.

Tiruvalluvar’s couplets are contemporary even today and can be applied to our daily life.

Aim Hrim Klim

Picture by Helppublic – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link