உறங்குவது போன்றது சாவு; உறங்கி விழிப்பது போன்றது பிறப்பு.

நிலையற்ற வாழ்க்கையில், உறக்கத்திற்குப் பிறகு விழிப்பதைப் போன்றது பிறப்பு; திரும்ப விழிக்க முடியாத மீளா உறக்கம் கொள்வதே இறப்பு

இறப்பு எனப்படுவது ஒருவனுக்குஉறக்கம் வருதலைப் போன்றது, பிறப்பு எனப்படுவது உறக்கம் நீங்கி விழித்துக் கொள்வதைப் போன்றது.

Death is like sleep; birth is like awaking from it

The verse 339 of Thirukkural draws a unique comparison between life's two extreme stages - birth and death - with the everyday phenomena of falling asleep and waking up. Here, Valluvar, the author, likens death to falling into a deep, undisturbed sleep. Just as one is unconscious and unaware during sleep, death too brings about a similar state of oblivion where one is disconnected from the physical world and its experiences. On the other hand, birth is compared to the act of waking up from sleep. Just as waking up signifies the start of a new day, filled with fresh experiences and activities, birth is the beginning of a new life, marked by new opportunities, relationships, and learnings. This comparison serves to simplify the understanding of birth and death, two profound concepts that are often viewed with complexity and fear. It provides a philosophical perspective on life and death, encouraging us to see them as natural and cyclic processes, just like sleeping and waking up. In essence, the Kural teaches us to view death not as an end, but as a temporary pause before the commencement of a new beginning, thereby promoting a sense of acceptance and tranquility towards the inevitable cycle of life and death.