On fate

What we experience in this life is the result of our karma.

But, if we pay for our past misdeeds and if nothing can

happen except as destined, then can we conquer our fate? Yes, said Thiruvalluvar. But the same Thiruvalluvar elsewhere said that one cannot conquer Fate. Now why did he make these contradictory statements? He made these diametrically opposed statements, because those who seek guidance from his work- Thirukkural- are all not people

with the same kind of problems.

Thiruvalluvar wanted his work to be of use to all those who read it. Thirukkural is like a pharmacy, for it offers solutions to various problems, said Suki Sivam in a lecture. Different people go to a pharmacy to buy medicines for different ailments. The same medicine cannot be sold to all of

them. Likewise, Thiruvalluvar could not offer the same solution to different kinds of problems.

Lazy people may use their lack of familial help or parental support or their lack of wealth as an excuse to remain idle. But nothing ever comes to the lazy man. They might use Fate as an excuse. They will say that Fate has put them in a poor family and that they cannot rise above their misfortune. But history is full of examples of men who have fought against disadvantages in life and against poverty and made a mark in life. So if a person who is lazy were to read Thirukkural,

he should get the message that laziness or idleness does not pay and that he should work hard to get out of his poverty.

He should realise that hard work pays and that it is up to him to try to make his life better. But sometimes it happens in life that a man may be talented, brilliant, honest and hardworking. Yet, fortune may not smile on him. He may never make much headway in life in spite of being blessed with abundance of intelligence and despite having worked hard. Or there may be other misfortunes that strike him. What will he take from Thirukkural? For such people Thiruvalluvar has the message that Fate cannot be conquered. This man does not need motivation, for he is self motivated. What he needs is consolation, and so Thiruvalluvar offers him the consolation he needs. Thus

Thirukkural addresses the concerns of everyone.