Parallels in Other Philosophical and Religious Traditions
🔱 1. Bhagavad Gita (Sanskrit)
Theme: Knowledge without devotion is hollow
विद्या विनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि ।
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥
(Bhagavad Gita 5.18)
vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
The wise see with equal vision a humble scholar, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater — because true knowledge brings humility and oneness.
Isha Upanishad – Verse 11
विद्यां चाविद्यां च यस्तद्वेदोभयं सह।
अविद्यया मृत्युं तीर्त्वा विद्ययाऽमृतमश्नुते॥
vidyāṁ cāvidyāṁ ca yas tad vedobhayaṁ saha
avidyayā mṛtyuṁ tīrtvā vidyayā’mṛtam aśnute
He who knows both avidyā (worldly knowledge) and vidyā (spiritual knowledge) together,
By avidyā crosses over death,
By vidyā attains immortality.
Bhagavat Gita 4.39
श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति॥
śraddhāvān labhate jñānaṁ tat-paraḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ
jñānaṁ labdhvā parāṁ śāntim acireṇa adhigacchati
The one who is full of faith, self-controlled, and devoted, attains true knowledge.
And having gained that knowledge, he quickly reaches supreme peace.
2. Mundaka Upanishad (Sanskrit)
Theme: Lower knowledge vs. higher wisdom (para vidya)
द्वे विद्ये वेदितव्ये — परा चापरा च
(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.1.4)
dve vidye veditavye — parā chāparā cha
Two types of knowledge must be known: the lower (rituals, texts) and the higher — that by which the imperishable truth is realized.
Tamil Parallels:
கீழ்அறிவும் மேற்சுத்தஞானமும் இரண்டும் அறியவேண்டும்.
(Keezh arivum mer suththa jñānamum iraṇḍum aṟiyavēṇṭum)
🌸 3. Tirumantiram – Tirumular (Tamil)
Theme: Wisdom without God-awareness is like a lamp without oil
அறிவுடை யாரென சொல்லிலர் தம்மை
அறிந்த அறிவே இறைவன் அருள்
(திருமந்திரம்)
Aṟivuḍai yāreṉa sollilar tammai
aṟinta aṟivē iraivaṉ aruḷ
They are not truly wise who claim to be, unless they have known themselves. True knowledge is God’s grace.
🧘 4. Dhammapada – The Buddha (Pali)
Theme: Learning without practice or realization is vain
Pali:
Sahassam api ce vācā, anatthapadasaṃhitā;
Ekaṃ atthapadaṃ seyyo, yaṃ sutvā upasammati.
(Dhammapada 100)
Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.
📜 5. Laozi – Tao Te Ching (Chinese)
Theme: True wisdom lies in surrender, not accumulation
"To know others is intelligence; to know oneself is true wisdom.
To master others is strength; to master oneself is true power."
(Tao Te Ching, Chapter 33)
"In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added.
In pursuit of the Tao, every day something is dropped."
(Tao Te Ching, Chapter 48)
🏛️ 6. Socrates (Western Philosophy)
Theme: True wisdom begins with humility and knowing one's ignorance
“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing: that I know nothing.”
This echoes Valluvar’s point: true learning starts with acknowledging how little we truly understand.
🪔 7. Saiva Siddhanta — Meykanda Thevar (Tamil)
Theme: The purpose of knowledge is union with the Supreme
உணர்வது உணர்வல்ல உணர்வது அவனைத் தான்
உணர்வால் உணர்வதே உணர்வு.
(சிவஞானபோதம்)
Uṇarvatu uṇarvalla, uṇarvatu avaṉait tāṉ
uṇarvāl uṇarvatē uṇarvu.
What we think is knowledge is not true knowledge. True knowledge is knowing Him (the divine) through our own awareness.