Sunday, May 3, 2020

Today's Tamil word - 3rd May 2020 - மெய்

Truth - நிஜம் (from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil Word - மெய் / உண்மை

மெய் quite literally means, that which we find about by going close to it. It is the root word for உண்மை - உள் (ண்) + மெய் : inside + knowing by going close -- so உண்மை literally means something we find by going inside.

மெய் has another derived meaning out of this: it also means Skin/Body - that which we only know when we get close, touch and find out (sense).

Since we are on this word, it is appropriate that I quote:

எப்பொருள் யார்யார்வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு (குறள் - 423)

where Valluvar stresses the need to find the true meaning (மெய்ப்பொருள்) of what we see/read/know. Only that is knowledge. If you take what others say on face value, you might be easily fooled.This Kural is as relevant in today's social media context as ever before.

அண. நாகப்பன்


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