4
confesses to his friend all that he achieved in business and how he enjoyed the wealth so acquired finally resulting in complete frustration of his life. He is consoled by his friend who advises him to adopt a more courageous attitude to his life by following the new ideal which will be a solace to him and restore him to spiritual purity. He presents the ideal of Ahimsa, first revealed to the world by Lord Vrishabha. Lord Vrishabha. a king of Ayodhya abdicated his empire and cast away all his paraphernalia of royalty to perform tapas in the forest. The kingdom was handed over to his son Bharata after whom the country is called Bharata. Varsha Lord Vrishabha obtaining omniscience went about from place to place preaching to the masses the message of universal love. He finally attained Nirvana at Mount Kailas. Associated with this ideal of Ahimsa, Universal Love, there is another principle prescribed by Lord Vrishabha. Every individual should. voluntarily limit his possessions and wealth. Whatever accrues to him beyond this must be devoted to the welfare of Society as a whole, he having no personal interest in it. This principle of conduct enjoined by Lord Vrishabha is recognised by our author as a universal remedy in the present world conflict between Capitalism and Communism. That such was the social organisation in the Tamil land during the period of composition of Thirukkural is also indicated by the author in his poem. He wants that this ideal which was the basis of social organisation in South India should be spread throughout India and also to the whole world. The two friends thereafter go about preaching this. ideal of social organisation for the purpose of enlightening the masses. Thus ends the poem.
Madras | A. Chakravarthi. | ||||
27—12—1950 |