Thirukkural- On Virtue- Compassion-Kural-244

By Staff

Thirukkural, kural 244
Mannuyir oambi arulalvaarku illenba Tannuyir anjum vinai.

The besetting sins that endanger the soul, will not approach those,Who encompass all living creatures with their love.

The generous souls that feel intensely other people's sufferings as their own, and step out spontaneously to relieve them, will be spared sufferings for themselves by the good god's special ordinance. That is also the direct import of Christ's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount:

'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy'.
(Matt. 5:7)

But Valluvar's idea here is interpreted as having an even wider coverage of all animate beings, which really is the prelude to the next chapter.

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