Stories Inspired by Thirukkural - Chapter 1:7 - Anxiety

Rajamani reflects on the 7th Thirukkural:

“Anxiety of mind cannot be removed, except from those who are united to the feet of Him who is incomparable.”

Rajamani struggles with anxiety and asks his father, Sahasranamam, for guidance. Sahasranamam explains that only by turning to a higher power can we find peace. Rajamani humorously compares it to needing a phone charger to stay calm, but Sahasranamam clarifies that true peace comes from within, not from external distractions.

Rajamani and Lata later connect it to One Piece—how Luffy and his crew find peace in the journey, rather than obsessing over the treasure. Luffy’s focus on the adventure over the goal echoes the message of the Kural: inner peace comes from letting go of anxiety and focusing on what truly matters.

💡 What makes you anxious? How do you manage it? Do you journal, meditate, or share your feelings with others? Let me know in the comments below!

🔔 Subscribe for a new Thirukkural every day! #Thirukkural #TamilWisdom #Anxiety #OnePoemADay

📌 AI Note: LLMs were used to generate some pictures, refine the script, and create descriptions for the channel.

The script:

தனக்குவமை இல்லாதான் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால் மனக்கவலை மாற்றல் அரிது

Anxiety of mind cannot be removed, except from those who are united to the feet of Him who is incomparable.

Rajamani sat with a thoughtful expression, running his fingers over his peppered beard as he pondered. He asked his father, Sahasranamam, “What does it truly mean?”

“It means that as long as our minds are clouded by anxiety and worry, we can’t find inner peace. But when we turn to God, or a higher power, we start to feel grounded and at ease.”

“Okay, got it. So like how I need my phone charger to charge my phone?”

Sahasranamam laughed and said, “Not exactly! In the case of your phone, you use it to connect to the outside world and keeps you calm in cases when you are troubled, turning to God or a higher power helps us connect to something bigger than ourselves and fills our hearts with peace.”

“Right now, I’m feeling anxious about my One Piece marathon with Lata. Hello… hello…”

“Remember the marathon, Appa?” asked Lata, with a twinkle in her eyes.

Rajamani gave Lata the example that his father had given him.

“Explain to me with your One Piece example.”

“Let’s see. Imagine Luffy and his crew are on a mission to find the legendary One Piece treasure. They’re getting anxious about not finding it soon, and their nerves are getting all frayed.”

“Okay.”

“But then they remember that it’s not just about finding the treasure - it’s about the journey, their friendships, and the adventures they have along the way. So instead of worrying about the outcome, they focus on enjoying the ride.”

“This is why he keeps yelling ‘I am going to be the King of the Pirates at the end of every episode?”

Lata laughed and continued, “Just like how Luffy doesn’t need to worry about the Devil Fruit power-ups, we don’t need to stress about our goals if we remember what’s truly important - our relationships and our own inner strength.”

Rajamani laughed and said, " Yeah, Kutty! You’re a One Piece master of the kural!"

[ Breaking the fourth wall ]

What makes you anxious? How do you make the anxiety go away? Do you journal? Do you tell others?

Ok, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.