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Kural 400

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kēṭil viḻuccelvaṅ kalvi yoruvaṟku / māṭalla maṟṟai yavai

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“Learning is excellence of wealth that none destroy; / To man nought else affords reality of joy.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“An imperishable and flawless treasure is learning to a man: other wealth is as nothing before it.”

Modern readingAI draft

Education is a person's excellent wealth that cannot be destroyed; all other possessions are not wealth of that enduring kind.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

ஒருவற்குக் கேடு இல் விழுச்செல்வம் கல்வி= ஒருவனுக்கு அழிவில்லாத சீரிய செல்வமாவது கல்வி; மற்றையவை மாடு அல்ல= அஃது ஒழிந்த மணியும் பொன்னும் முதலாயின செல்வம் அல்ல.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Learning is a person's imperishable and supreme treasure; all other material wealth and possessions are not true, enduring riches.