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The life of three senses is that
which has the sense of nose in addition
to the two The life of four senses is that
which has the sense of eyes in addition
to the three The life of five senses is that
which has the sense of ears in addition
to the four The life of six senses is that
which has the mind in addition to the
five Thus the well - versed scholars
classified the living creatures.
TS. Ilakkuvanar, Tholkappi. yam, in English, with critical studies, verse 582, page 251-252 ] Onrarivaduve utrarivaduve Irandarivaduve Adanodu nave Moonrarivaduve avatrodu mookke Nangarivaduve avatrodu kannen Eindarivaduve avatrodu sevieu
(Chevie) Ararivaduve avatrodu manano Neridu unarndor nerippaduttinare
Examples of each of these six classes have also been indicated in the succeeding lines.
The grass, the trees and others of their ilk are endowed with one sense. [ Pullum maranum orarivinave Piravumulave akkilaippirappe ]
The snail, the oyster, and oth ers of their ilk have two senses. ( Nandhum uralum eerarivinave
Piravum ulave akkilaippirappe )
The termites ( white ants ), the ants, and others of their ilk have three senses. (Sidalum erumbum moovarivinave Piravum ulave akkilaippirappe )
The crabs (or is it bees?), the dragon flies, and others of their ilk have four senses. ( Nandund (m) tumbiyum nanga
rivinave Piravum ulave akkilaippirappe )
The beasts, human of low culture, and others of their ilk have five senses. ( Mavu makkalum iyarivinave Piravum ulave akkilaiappirppe )
Enlightened people and others of their ilk are beings of six senses. ( Makkadame yarariyire
( Makkalame ) Piravum ulave akkilaippiarppe ) [ Tholkāppiyam, verses 583-588 )
According to this classification it would appear that those human beings in whom the sense of the mind, or reasoning, is not awakened are placed in the category of beasts. [S. Singarevelu Social Life of the Tamils - The Classical Period 1966, page 18
In literary usages in Tamil, says R. P. Sethu Pillai in his book “Word and their Signifi. cance", ( page 9 ) the term makkal denotes generally rational beings and the term mākkal signifies those human beings who are devoid of reason.
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