Thirukkural-On Wealth-On Education-Kural-400

Add as a preferred source on Google

This is the last of the five Kurals, which speak in high praise of the wealth of learning. Other forms of wealth, gold, silver, land, crops, different movable properties and cash are subject to decay, loss through acts of nature or loss on account of anti-social activities, such as vandalism and theft, and other form of destruction. Learning alone is one"s asset, which cannot be destroyed by any of these. And, therefore, the wealth of learning gives a rare joy that nothing else can really give to the possessor.

Further, as V V S Iyer says, quoting in translation from Parimel Azhagar, this form of wealth is not also reduced by partition among brothers or 'thayathis', by being imparted to disciples, or even by taxation imposed by princes. At the same time, it is flawless, because it will not descend, like other forms of wealth, to unworthy children.