WORTH FOUR CRORES

The Tamil Sage-Poetess Avvaiyar was once asked whether she could compose four crores (4,00,00,000) of poems at a stretch. She accepted the challenge and got down to work then and there with palm-leaf and stylus. The admirer and critics, assembled in the hall, prepared themselves for a marathon poetry-recital session when the sagacious lady commenced reading her first poem of four lines, the gist of which is as under:

“(i) Not crossing the threshold

of those that disrespect you

is worth a crore indeed;

(ii) Not partaking of food

in the homes of those

that do not with full heart

invite you to do so,

is worth a crore indeed;

(iii) Expending crores even

in order to cultivate

association with those

of noble lineage

is worth a crore indeed;

(iv) Not allowing your tongue

ever to swerve from Truth,

even if you are offered

crores and crores as bribe

is worth a crore indeed;

Capsules of wisdom, such as this poem, are plenty in Avvaiyar’s literature. Should not your daughters and sons be brought up on wholesome food of this nature?

[Tamil poem by AVVAIYAR (12^th century A.D) rendered into English by Sage TGN]

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