மழை பொய்த்துப் போனால் தெய்வத்திற்குத் தினமும் நடக்கும் பூசனையும் நடக்காது; ஆண்டுதோறும் கொண்டாடப்படும் திருவிழாவும் நடைபெறாது

வானமே பொய்த்து விடும்போது, அதன்பின்னர் அந்த வானத்தில் வாழ்வதாகச் சொல்லப்படுகிறவர்களுக்கு விழாக்கள் ஏது? வழிபாடுதான் ஏது?

மழை பெய்யாமல் போகுமானால் இவ்வுலகத்தில் வானோர்க்காக நடைபெறும் திருவிழாவும் நடைபெறாது; நாள் வழிபாடும் நடைபெறாது

If the heaven dry up, neither yearly festivals, nor daily worship will be offered in this world, to the celestials

Kural 18 emphasizes the indispensable role of rain or water in maintaining the socio-religious order of the world. It states that if the heavens (symbolic of rain clouds) were to dry up, the yearly festivals and daily worships offered to the celestials (heavenly beings or gods) would come to a halt. This is because many religious activities and festivals in ancient times, particularly in agrarian societies like ancient Tamil regions, were closely associated with the agricultural cycle, which in turn depends heavily on the rains. Without rain, there would be no harvest, leading to a lack of resources to conduct these festivals and daily rituals. Moreover, the verse suggests that water, symbolized here as rain, is not just important for physical sustenance, but also for spiritual well-being. It indirectly stresses the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual realms, where the absence of one vital element (rain) can disrupt both the mundane and the divine aspects of life. Therefore, this verse is a profound reminder of the critical importance of environmental balance and the conservation of natural resources for the holistic well-being of society. It's a call for mankind to respect and preserve nature, as its disruption can have far-reaching consequences, affecting not just our material existence but also our spiritual practices and beliefs.