Thirukkural Chapter 40 - Learning


Couplet 391 
So learn that you may full and faultless learning gain,
Then in obedience meet to lessons learnt remain
Explanation
Let a man learn thoroughly whatever he may learn, and let his conduct be worthy of his learning

Couplet 392 
The twain that lore of numbers and of letters give
Are eyes, the wise declare, to all on earth that live
Explanation
Letters and numbers are the two eyes of man

Couplet 393 
Men who learning gain have eyes, men say;
Blockheads' faces pairs of sores display
Explanation
The learned are said to have eyes, but the unlearned have (merely) two sores in their face

Couplet 394 
You meet with joy, with pleasant thought you part;
Such is the learned scholar's wonderous art
Explanation
It is the part of the learned to give joy to those whom they meet, and on leaving, to make them think (Oh! when shall we meet them again.)

Couplet 395 
With soul submiss they stand, as paupers front a rich man's face;
Yet learned men are first; th'unlearned stand in lowest place
Explanation
The unlearned are inferior to the learned, before whom they stand begging, as the destitute before the wealthy

Couplet 396 
In sandy soil, when deep you delve, you reach the springs below;
The more you learn, the freer streams of wisdom flow
Explanation
Water will flow from a well in the sand in proportion to the depth to which it is dug, and knowledge will flow from a man in proportion to his learning

Couplet 397 
The learned make each land their own, in every city find a home;
Who, till they die; learn nought, along what weary ways they roam
Explanation
How is it that any one can remain without learning, even to his death, when (to the learned man) every country is his own (country), and every town his own (town) ?

Couplet 398 
The man who store of learning gains,
In one, through seven worlds, bliss attains
Explanation
The learning, which a man has acquired in one birth, will yield him pleasure during seven births

Couplet 399 
Their joy is joy of all the world, they see; thus more
The learners learn to love their cherished lore
Explanation
The learned will long (for more learning), when they see that while it gives pleasure to themselves, the world also derives pleasure from it

Couplet 400 
Learning is excellence of wealth that none destroy;
To man nought else affords reality of joy
Explanation
Learning is the true imperishable riches; all other things are not riches