More than a two thousand years ago, the great Tamil work "Tirukkural" (திருக்குறள்) (Sacred Verses) speaks about equality and against stratification based on birth. This kural forms the subject of this short post.
Kural 972: குறள் 972
பிறப்பொக்கும் எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் சிறப்பொவ்வா
செய்தொழில் வேற்றுமை யான்
Transliteration
piRappuokkum ellA uyirkkum siRappuovvA
seythozil vaetRRumai yAn.
Translation
All life on earth is same in origin; but each one's merit varies according to avocations and skills; not by birth. (J. Narayanasamy)
All human beings agree as regards their birth but differ as regards their characteristics, because of the different qualities of their actions. (Pope, Drew, Lazarus & Eillis)
Comment
Tirukkural is praised for its universality, which cuts across space and, more importantly, time. This kural is the best example of its eternal character. First, a word by word, literal, meaning:
பிறப்பு: Birth
ஒக்கும்: is the same
எல்லா: All
உயிர்க்கும்: living persons
சிறப்பு: special
ஒவ்வா: somethings that does not conform to
செய்தொழில்: vocation
வேற்றுமை: Difference
Uyirkum (உயிர்க்கும்) can mean living beings but in the present context, it refers to living beings. That the kural refers to humans and not all living beings is the view of many commentators (such as Parimelazhagar, Pope et al, etc.
Nevertheless, Tiruvalluvar may have referred to Uyirkum (உயிர்க்கும்) to mean all living beings. If such a construction is adopted, he could have meant: By birth, all living beings are the same, but among humans the difference depends on their actions.
Another point that is worth noting is that sirappu (சிறப்பு), though literally singular, is plural in the context (Parimelazhagar). It refers to Ciṟappiyalpukaḷ or distinctive characteristics.
Thus, the Kural states: By birth, all humans are the same, but what distinguishes one from another is the manner in which he/she goes about with his/ her vocation.
