c01224 - வெற்றிவேற்கையும் உலகநீதியும்

வெற்றிவேற்கை is a didactic poem. It is also known as நறுந்தொகை. King அதிவீரராமபாண்டியன் is the author of this work. He was a Tamil scholar. He encouraged good poets and gave them awards but punished the less competent poets. The first word in the first poem is வெற்றிவேற்கை. That itself was made the title of the poem. The title refers to king அதிவீரராமபாண்டியன், who carried a வேல் which brought him victory.

வெற்றிவேற்கை begins with a prayer to Lord Vinayaka. One of the main topics of discussion is கல்வி (learning) and கல்லாமை (non-learning). No one respects an uneducated man. A learned person is identified by his flawless speech. Even if one is reduced to begging he should continue learning. One's caste may be superior, but if he has no learning he is considered to be a man of low caste. An ignorant person is like a husk without grain.

Another interesting topic is உதவி (help) and உதவாமை (not helping). To help others we do not require a lot of wealth. We need only a magnanimous heart. For example, the tiny seed of the banyan tree, grows into a huge tree and offers shelter even to large armies. On the other hand the huge seed of the palm tree grows into a tall tree, but offers no shade. It symbolizes the unwillingness to help others.

The difference between good and bad people is also brought out clearly. Good people never swerve from their goodness. They are compared to the tasty milk of the cow, shining red gold, fragrant sandal, sweet smelling அகில் insence, and clear sea water; these five objects never lose their innate essence. Wicked people on the other hand, can never give up their wickedness. They are like பேய்ச்சுரைக்காய் which is always bitter and onion which retains its pungent smell, even when it is mixed with spices.

Poverty and wealth are unstable. Rich men may be driven to beg at choultries. Palaces may turn into barren lands where donkeys live. The poet cautions us to be balanced in wealth and poverty.

உலகநீதி

The author of உலகநீதி is உலகநாதர். This work has thirteen poems. The last line of each poem glorifies Lord Murugan. The author presents ideas for the welfare of humanity. Valli, the consort of Murugan is celebrated in nine of the poems.

Anger destroys the angry man as well as his friends. A man should speak only the truth even if he has to die. He should never utter falsehood knowingly. He should not speak words that make others unhappy.

According to Ulaganather five people make life comfortable. They are; the washerman, the barber, the teacher, the nurse and the doctor. The teacher enlightens the soul. The other four give us to material comforts.