Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Wise Words from Ancient India

The Tirukural is an ancient Indian book of wisdom, written in Tamil probably between 100-300 BCE. I actually get a verse a day from it. Today's missive had a very striking comment with great resonance for me. In the email version I receive, it was rendered as:

KURAL 129

The wound caused by fire heals in its time;
the burn inflicted by an inflamed tongue never heals.

I decided I wanted to see the original, so I GoogledTM for it and found this:

129. தீயினாற் சுட்டபுண் உள்ளாறும் ஆறாதே
நாவினாற் சுட்ட வடு.

The fire-burnt wounds do find a cure;
Tongue-burnt wound rests a running sore.

The art of translation is a lively one, but in either case, the sentiment is vivid and resonant.

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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 14, 2006 9:30 AM

    Being Irish, the motto "Always forgive never forget" comes to mind. But being THAT type of Irish ;D i be an unforgivin' bastid as well IOW i be with Ye on this whatever the circumstances...

    And! *in person* Sunday :D (keeps pincers crossed for the maintaining of The Good Weather Thang)

    *hug* The Abominable JOEman

    ReplyDelete
  2. C. Margery KempeDecember 14, 2006 4:13 PM

    Fingers crossed -- it does look like we'll ahve good weather this weekend. Hurrah! Big hugs for everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  3. C. Margery KempeDecember 16, 2006 8:17 AM

    And from today's email:

    KURAL 152

    It is always good to endure injuries done to you, but to forget them is even better.

    But hard to do...

    ReplyDelete

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