रामचन्द्र-दीक्षितः

திருக்குறள் - ஆங்கில மொழிபெயர்ப்பு
ஆசிரியர் : இராமசந்திர தீக்‌ஷிதர்

“tirukkuRaL” English translation by Ramachandra dikshitar

Source:
Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar (in Roman transliteration)
with English Translation
by
V.R. Ramachandra Dikshitar, M.A.,
Professor of Indian History and Archaeology, University of Madras

with a Foreword by
Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar, Dewan of Mysore

The Adyar Library, 1949
(The Adyar Library Series Nr. 67)

Price Rs. 3
Printed by C.Subbarayudu at the Vasanta Press,
The Theosophical Society, Adyar, Madras

FOREWORD

It has been long my desire to get an English translation in simple language of the holy Tirukkural, the teachings of which, to Tamilians, are an eternal inspiration and guide. More than 25 years back, I had invoked the aid and assistance of a great Tamil Pandit with whose collaboration I felt I would be in a position to bring out such a translation but, owing to his untimely demise, I had to give up the project. The happy thought struck me a few years back that, if my esteemed friend, Professor V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar, could under take this task, it would be the consummation of my hope and desire. Professor Ramachandra Dikshitar readily agreed to my request that he might undertake to translate the holy Tirukkural. I could not have entrusted the work to a more distinguished scholar of Tamil literature or a better writer of simple and elegant English. Mr. Dikshitar’s contribution in research, particularly of Tamil literature, is well known and needs no emphasis.

Mr. Dikshitar has presented to the public two volumes of the Tirukkural, one containing the text in Tamil with the English translation and the other, the text in Roman transliteration with the same English translation. I hope and trust that these volumes will have a wide circulation both in India and outside and that it will be possible, by donations and subsidy, to issue these volumes at a comparatively small cost. There is a great deal of patriotism in South India for Tamil language and a legitimate pride exhibited in the eternal verities that are enshrined in this holy scripture. This patriotism and pride will have to manifest itself by providing facilities for spreading these great divine truths to as wide a populace as possible, thereby extending that knowledge to races and peoples whose mother tongue is not Tamil. Tamil is one of the most ancient of classics and yet, while other classical literature has been translated into many of the modern languages, Tamil classics have been retained as the sole proud possession of Tamil scholars and have rarely been translated into other languages, Indian or foreign.
Now that Mr. Dikshitar has completed his task, it behoves all of us who are enthusiastic about the Tamil language and more, about its literature, to do our best to make it available to peoples in foreign countries. I should like to express my very sincere thanks to Mr. Dikshitar for acceding to my request and bringing out these publications.

A. RAMASWAMI MUDALIAR
CARLTON HOUSE,
Bangalore, 15th May 1949

PREFATORY NOTE

This is the first time that the Adyar Library has included a Tamil text in its Series. The name of Prof. V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar, the editor and translator of the Tirukkural now published, is already well-known as a great Tamil scholar by his book on The Studies in Tamil Literature and History. He is the well known Translator of that difficult Tamil classic the Silappadikaram. A smaller book of his, The Origin and spread of the Tamils, has already been published in this Series as No. 58 in 1947. It is a matter of gratification to the Library to be able to publish one of the most important Tamil Classics with an English translation by such a great scholar in the Library Series.

There may be many students who would be able to read and to study this text if it could be made available in a script with which they are familiar. And the Roman script is now fairly well spread over in the whole world; that is why the text has been given in the Roman script, with the English translation. But we cannot ignore the big population that knows the Tamil script, and the text in the Roman script may not be known to them to the same extent, if at all they know it. So there is given a parallel volume of the text in Tamil script with the same English translation as No. 68.

The Tirukkural is in three parts, dealing with the three “Aims” in life, namely, Dharma, Artha and Kama, so well-known in Hindu thought. We hear more now-a-days about the Varnasramadharma, as the foundation of Hindu life. But the real basis of Hindu life is the Trivarga, the three-fold objects of life, dealt with in this text. Perhaps the expression Puruşarthacatuştaya, (the four-fold objects of life) is more popular, with Moksa or final release as the fourth. But the truth is that according to the true Hindu view the objects of life are only three, and the fourth comes as a natural sequence. The three objects of life are not mutually exclusive; it is only a question of importance according to the different tendencies of the individuals.

The text and the translation are given one against the other on opposite pages, so that one can very easily make use of the translation while reading the text. The text has been edited before, and a few commentaries too are known. There have been also English translations prior to this. But the value of this new translation will be clear to anyone who reads the book. The text in Roman transliteration is now appearing for the first time. To the scholarship of Prof. Dikshitar is added the fame of the Vasanta Press for neat printing; and such a wealth is now offered at a very moderate price by the Adyar Library which has always sacrificed profit in the interest of service.

ADYAR LIBRARY C. KUNHAN RAJA
13th April, 1949
(New Year Day)

PREFACE

MORE than four years ago Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar, now Dewan of Mysore, suggested that I might undertake a translation of the Tirukkural as also its transliteration. The present book is the outcome of his suggestion. To serve the needs of a wider public, it is now published in two volumes, one containing the text in Roman transliteration and the other in Tamil script, and both containing English translation. The Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar is the pride of South India. What the Bhagavad Gita is to the Sanskritist, the Tirukkural is to the lover of Tamil. In this book Tiruvalluvar treats of Muppal, or Trivarga (Dharma, Artha, and Kama). He has divided his book into three parts, the first dealing with Aram, the second with Porul, and the last with Kāma. This Tamil classic deals in extenso with the moral values of life which foster neighbourliness and love among all men and women to whatever race or community they may belong. It is now nearly twenty years since I published my Studies in Tamil Literature and History, where I have assigned the first or second century B. C. as the date of its composition. I find no reason to change that view.

In this endeavour I have largely followed the text and consulted the translation of the Tirukkural published by Sri A. Ranganatha Mudaliar, Triplicane. Mr. R. S. Desikan of the Presidency College and the Rev. W. B. Harris of the Methodist Mission looked into the manuscript of the work and offered me valuable suggestions for which my thanks are due to them. I must also acknowledge the immense help I received from Dr. M. Varadarajan, Senior Lecturer in Tamil, University of Madras, in going through the proofs. I am indebted to the authorities of the Adyar Library, Adyar especially to Captain G. Srinivasa Murti for undertaking this publication and to Dr. C. Kunhan Raja for his co-operation. I further record my thanks to the Syndicate of the Madras University for permitting me to bring out this publication.

Madras, V. R. R. DIKSHITAR
6th May, 1949

Foreword by Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar
Prefatory Note by Prof. C. Kunhan Raja
Preface
Note on Transliteration and Diacritical Marks

CONTENTS CONTENTS Foreword by Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar Prefatory Note by Prof. C. Kunhan Raja Preface Note on Transliteration and Diacritical Marks ARATTUPPĀL ARATTUPPĀL

1. Kaḑavuļ Vāḻttu In Praise of God
1. Vāṉ Sirappu In Praise of Rain
1. Nīttār Perumai On the Greatness of Renunciation
1. Aŗaṉvaliyuŗuttal On Dharma
1. Ilvāḻkkai On Family Life 7
1. Vāḻkkaittuṇainalam On Wives
1. Putalvaraip Peŗutal On Sons
1. Aṉbuḑaimai Loving-Kindness
1. Viruntõmbal On Hospitality
1. Iṉiyavai Kūŗal On Sweet Words
1. Seynnaṉŗi Yaŗidal On Gratitude
1. Naḑuvu Nilaimai On Equity.
1. Ațakkamuḑaimai On Self-Control
1. Oḻukkamuḑaimai On Right Conduct
1. Piŗaṉil Viḻaiyāmai On Adultery
1. Poŗaiyuḑaimai On Patience
1. Aḻukkāŗāmai On Envy
1. Vehkāmai On Non-Coveting
1. Puŗankūŗāmai On Not Back-Biting
1. Payaṉila Sollāmai On Frivolity of Speech
1. Tīviṉaiyaccaṁ On Fear of Evil Deeds
1. Oppuravaŗital On Decorum
1. Īkai On Liberality
1. Pugaḻ On Renown
1. Aruļuḑaimai On Compassion
1. Pulāl Maŗuttal On Abstaining from Meat
1. Tavam On Penance
1. Kūḑā Oḻukkam On Improper Conduct
1. Kaļļāmai On Non-Stealing
1. Vāymai On Truth
1. Vekuļāmai On Not Getting Angry
1. Iṉṉāśeyyāmai On Not Doing Evil
1. Kollāmai On Not Killing
1. Nilaiyāmai On Instability 8
1. Tuŗavu On Renunciation
1. Meyyuņartal On True Knowledge
1. Avāvaŗuttal On the Destruction of Desire
1. Ūḻ On Fate

– PORUȚPĀL

1. Iŗaimāṭci On Majesty
1. Kalvi On Learning
1. Kallāmai On Non-Learning
1. Kēļvi On Hearing
1. Aŗivuḑaimai On Knowledge
1. Kuŗŗam Kaţital On Restraining Faults
1. Periyārait Tuņaikkõṭal On Association with Elders
1. Śiŗŗinañ cērāmai On Avoiding Low Company
1. Terindu Śeyal Vakai On Action after Due Deliberation
1. Valiyaŗital On Knowing the Enemy’s Strength
1. Kālam Aŗital On Knowing the Time
1. Iḑan Aŗital On Knowing the Place
1. Terindu Teļital Engaging Servants After Test
1. Terindu Viṉaiyāṭal On Appointment According to Merit
1. Śuŗŗantaḻāl On Cherishing One’s Kindred
1. Poccāvāmai Against Forgetfulness
1. Śenkōṉmai On Righteous Sceptre
1. Koḑunkōṉmai On Unrighteous Rule
1. Veruvanta Śeyyāmai On Tyranny
1. Kaṇṇōttam On Kindliness
1. Oŗŗāṭal On Spies
1. Ūkkamuḑaimai On Exertion
1. Maţiyiṉmai Against Sloth 9
1. Aļaviṉaiyuḑaimai On Perseverance
1. Iḑukkaṉaḻiyāmai On Courage
1. Amaiccu On Ministers
1. Śolvaṉmai On Good Speech
1. Viṉaittūymai On Purity in Action
1. Viṉaittiṭpam On Resoluteness
1. Viṉaiśeyal Vakai On the Means of Action
1. Tūtu On Embassy
1. Maṉṉaraic Cērndoḻukal On Co-operation with King
1. Kuŗippaŗital On Reading One’s Intentions
1. Avaiyaŗital On Knowing the Assembly
1. Avaiyañjāmai Not to be Afraid of Assembly
1. Nāḑu On the Kingdom
1. Araṇ On Fortress
1. Poruļ Śeyal Vakai On Acquisition of Wealth
1. Paḑai Māțci On the Value of an Army
1. Paḑaiccerukku On Courage of the Army
1. Națpu On Friendship
1. Națpārāytal On True Friendship
1. Paḻamai On Old Friendship
1. Tīnațpu On Base Alliance
1. Kūḑānațpu On False Alliance
1. Pēdaimai On Stupidity
1. Pullaŗivāņmai On Ignorance
1. Īkal On Discord
1. Pakai Māṭci On Enmity
1. Pakaittiŗanterital On Knowing the Enemy’s Strength
1. Uṭpakai Internal Foes
1. Periyāraippiḻaiyāmai Not Censuring the Great 10
1. Peņvaḻiccēŗal On Following Women’s Advice
1. Varaiviṉmakaļir On Public Women
1. Kaļļuņņāmai On Avoiding Wine
1. Śūtu On Gambling
1. Marundu On Medicine
1. Kuḑimai On Noble Lineage
1. Māṉam On Honour
1. Perumai On Greatness
1. Śāṉŗāņmai On Good Conduct
1. Paņbuḑaimai On Courtesy
1. Naṉŗiyil Śelvam On Unprofitable Wealth
1. Nāņuḑaimai On Modesty
1. Kuḑi Śeyalvakai On Exalting One’s Family
1. Uḻavu On Agriculture
1. Nalkuravu On Poverty
1. Iravu On Begging
1. Iravaccam On Fear of Begging
1. Kayamai On Meanness

KĀMATTUPPĀL KĀMATTUPPĀL

1. Takaiyaņanguŗuttal On Lover’s Distraction
1. Kuŗippaŗital Reading Love’s Signs
1. Puņarcci Makiḻtal The Ecstasy of Love’s Union
1. Nalampuṉainduraittal On His Lady
1. Kādaŗ Śiŗappuraittal On the Affirmation of Love
1. Nāņuttaŗavuraittal Speaking Out Unabashed
1. Alaraŗivuŗuttal Rumours of Secret Love
1. Pirivāŗŗāmai The Pangs of Separation
1. Paḑarmelindirangal The Cry of the Separated 11
1. Kaņviduppaḻidal On Eyes That Languish
1. Pacappuŗu Paruvaral Grieving Over Love’s Pallor
1. Taṉippaḑar Mikuti Feeling All Alone
1. Ninaindavar Pulambal Recollecting the Pleasures of Love
1. Kaṉavunilai Uraittal Dreams of Love
1. Poḻutu Kaṇḑirangal Sunset and Sorrow
1. Uŗuppunalaṉ Aḻital Wasting Away
1. Neñcoḑu Kiļattal Soliloquy of the Lady Love
1. Niŗai Aḻital On the Loss of Modesty
1. Avarvayiṉ Vidumbal On the Distress of each Towards the Other
1. Kuŗipaŗivuŗuttal On Speaking on the Signs
1. Puņarcci Vidumbal On Yearning After Union
1. Neñcoḑu Pulattal On Speaking with the Mind
1. Pulavi On Lovers’ Misunderstanding
1. Pulavi Nuņukkam On Subtlety of Lovers’ Misunderstanding
1. Ūḑaluvakai On the Pleasures of Lovers’ Misunderstanding

Thirukkural English Translation

by Ramachandra Dikshitar

pāl - iyal -atikāram aṭṭavaṇai

1. aṟattuppāl
1.1 pāyiram / kaṭavuḷ vāḻttu (atikāram 1 - 4)
1.2 illaṟaviyal (atikāram 5 - 24)
1.3 tuṟavaṟaviyal (atikāram 25 - 37)
1.4 ūḻiyal (atikāram 38)

2. poruṭpāl
2.1 araciyal (atikāram 39 - 63)
2.2 amaicciyal (atikāram 64 - 73)
2.3 aṅkaviyal (atikāram 74 - 95)
2.4 oḻipiyal (atikāram 96 - 108)

3. kāmattuppāl
3.1 kaḷaviyal (atikāram 109 - 115)
3.2 kaṟpiyal (atikāram 116 - 133)

I. PREFACE

1. kaṭavuḷ vāḻttu - CHAPTER 1 — IN PRAISE OF GOD

akaram mutala, eḻuttu ellām; ātipakavaṉ mutaṟṟē, ulaku.
All the letters have the letter ‘A’ as their Origin; this world has God as its origin.
kaṟṟataṉāl āya payaṉ eṉkol-vāl-aṟivaṉ nal tāḷ toḻāar eṉiṉ?.
Of what avail is learning, if the learned do not adore the good feet of Him who is Immaculate Wisdom?
malarmicai ēkiṉāṉ māṇ aṭi cērntār nilamicai nīṭu vāḻvār.
Those who find refuge in the great feet (of Him) who lives in the lotus of the heart (of the devotee) live eternally in heaven.

13 4. vēṇṭutal vēṇṭāmai ilāṉ aṭi cērntārkku yāṇṭum iṭumpai ila.
4. Those who have attained the feet of Him who has no likes or dislikes will be rid of all troubles.

iruḷ cēr iru viṉaiyum cērā, iṟaivaṉ poruḷ cēr pukaḻ purintārmāṭṭu.
Actions, both good and bad that spring from darkness of the mind will never touch those who ever chant the glories of the Lord.
poṟi vāyil aintu avittāṉ poy tīr oḻukka neṟi niṉṟār nīṭu vāḻvār.
Those who still the five senses and walk in truth and right will ever live.
taṉakku uvamai illātāṉ tāḷ cērntārkku allāl, maṉak kavalai māṟṟal aritu.
Only those who have sought refuge in the feet of the peerless can shake off anxiety. Others cannot.
aṟa āḻi antaṇaṉ tāḷ cērntārkku allāl, piṟa āḻi nīntal aritu.
Only those who have clung to the feet of the Lord who is the sea of righteousness, will be able to sail the other seas. Others cannot.

14 9. kōḷ il poṟiyil kuṇam ilavē-eṇkuṇattāṉ tāḷai vaṇaṅkāt talai.
9. The head that does not bow down before and worship the feet of the Lord of the eight attributes, will be as like the palsied senses.

piṟavip peruṅ kaṭal nīntuvar; nīntār, iṟaivaṉ aṭi cērātār.
Those who gain the feet of the Lord cross the great ocean of births; others cannot.

1. vāṉciṟappu -CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 2 —IN PRAISE OF RAIN IN PRAISE OF RAIN IN PRAISE OF RAIN

vāṉ niṉṟu ulakam vaḻaṅki varutalāṉ, tāṉ amiḻtam eṉṟu uṇaral pāṟṟu.
The world for its existence depends on unfailing rainfall; the rain may well be regarded as the nectar of life.
tuppārkkut tuppu āya tuppu ākki, tuppārkkut tuppu āyatūum maḻai.
The rain is the source of all articles of food that man needs. It becomes his drink too.
viṇ iṉṟu poyppiṉ, virinīr viyaṉ ulakattuuḷ niṉṟu uṭaṟṟum paci. 15
Hunger would stalk abroad and torment this wide sea-girt world were the rims to fail in time.
ēriṉ uḻāar uḻavar, puyal eṉṉum vāri vaḷam kuṉṟikkāl.
The cultivators would cease to plough were the clouds’ free supply of water to fail.
keṭuppatūum, keṭṭārkkuc cārvāy maṟṟu āṅkē eṭuppatūum, ellām maḻai.
It is the rain that afflicts man and it is its fall that relieves him.
vicumpiṉ tuḷi vīḻiṉ allāl, maṟṟu āṅkē pacum pul talai kāṇpu aritu.
If the clouds were to withhold rain not even a blade of grass would rustle on earth.
neṭuṅ kaṭalum taṉ nīrmai kuṉṟum, taṭintu eḻilitāṉ nalkātu ākiviṭiṉ.
Even the illimitable deep shrinks if the clouds do not pour and replenish it.
ciṟappoṭu pūcaṉai cellātu-vāṉam vaṟakkumēl, vāṉōrkkum, īṇṭu. 16
If the rains were to fail there would be no more o£ferings and festivals to the gods.
tāṉam tavam iraṇṭum taṅkā, viyaṉ ulakam vāṉam vaḻaṅkātu eṉiṉ.
If the rains were to fail, there would neither be alms nor penance on this wide earth.
nīr iṉṟu amaiyātu ulakueṉiṉ, yāryārkkum vāṉ iṉṟu amaiyātu oḻukku.
The world cannot exist without water; there will be no ceaseless supply without rainfall.

1. nīttār perumai - 3. nīttār perumai -CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 3 —ON THE GREATNESS OF RENUNCIATION ON THE GREATNESS OF RENUNCIATION ON THE GREATNESS OF RENUNCIATION

oḻukkattu nīttār perumai viḻuppattu vēṇṭum- paṉuval tuṇivu.
The one supreme thing all scriptures affirm is the great renunciation of those who walk in right conduct.
tuṟantār perumai tuṇaik kūṟiṉ, vaiyattu iṟantārai eṇṇikkoṇṭaṟṟu.
To measure the greatness of one who has renounced is like reckoning the number of the dead in this world. 17
irumai vakai terintu īṇṭu aṟam pūṇṭār perumai piṟaṅkiṟṟu, ulaku.
The greatest thing on earth is the renunciation of those who understand birth and liberation.
uraṉ eṉṉum tōṭṭiyāṉ, ōr aintum kāppāṉ varaṉ eṉṉum vaippiṟku ōr vittu.
He who with firmness bridles the five senses is (himself) the seed of the eternal bliss. Verily he is the seed of the immortals who with firmness bridles the five senses.
aintu avittāṉ āṟṟal, akal vicumpuḷār kōmāṉ intiraṉē cālum, kari.
Indra, the Lord of the skies is himself a witness, to the might of those who have conquered their five senses.
ceyaṟku ariya ceyvār periyar; ciṟiyar ceyaṟku ariya ceykalātār.

1. The great achieve the impossible; the little cannot.

cuvai, oḷi, ūṟu, ōcai, nāṟṟam eṉṟu aintiṉ vakai terivāṉkaṭṭē-ulaku. 18
The world falls at the feet of one who has realised the true nature of the taste, sight, touch, sound and smell.
niṟaimoḻi māntar perumai nilattu maṟaimoḻi kāṭṭiviṭum.
The greatness of the sages in this world is borne out by their prophetic utterances.
kuṇam eṉṉum kuṉṟu ēṟi niṉṟār vekuḷi kaṇam ēyum, kāttal aritu.
It is impossible to resist even for a minute the wrath of those who stand on the hill of virtue’s actions.
antaṇar eṉpōr aṟavōr-maṟṟu ev uyirkkum cen taṇmai pūṇṭu oḻukalāṉ.
They are the Brahmans who are righteous and love all creation.

1. aṟaṉvaliyuṟuttal -CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4 —ON DHARMA ON DHARMA ON DHARMA

ciṟappu īṉum; celvamum īṉum; aṟattiṉ ūuṅku ākkam evaṉō, uyirkku.
Is there anything higher in life than Dharma? It secures glory and wealth.
aṟattiṉ ūuṅku ākkamum illai; ataṉai maṟattaliṉ ūṅku illai kēṭu. 19
Nothing is higher than Dharma; to forget it is wrought with greatest evil.
ollum vakaiyāṉ aṟaviṉai ōvātē cellum vāy ellām ceyal.
Avail yourself of all opportunities. Do not cease from practising Dharma on all possible occasions to the best of your ability.
maṉattukkaṇ mācu ilaṉ ātal; aṉaittu aṟaṉ; ākula nīra, piṟa.
Be pure in mind. That is Dharma. All else is but pompous show.
aḻukkāṟu, avā, vekuḷi, iṉṉāc col, nāṉkum iḻukkā iyaṉṟatu-aṟam.
That course of conduct that steers clear of every desire, wrath, and offensive speech — is alone Dharma.
‘aṉṟu aṟivām’ eṉṉātu, aṟam ceyka; maṟṟu atu poṉṟuṅkāl poṉṟāt tuṇai.
Do not postpone doing Dharma. Do it now. For it will be a never failing friend at your death.
‘aṟattu āṟu itu’ eṉa vēṇṭā; civikai poṟuttāṉoṭu ūrntāṉ iṭai. 20

1. Why search for the fruits of Dharma? Behold the one in the palanquin and the

palanquin-bearer.

vīḻ nāḷ paṭāamai naṉṟu āṟṟiṉ, aḵtu oruvaṉ vāḻ nāḷ vaḻi aṭaikkum kal.
If one were to practise righteousness every day it would be the stone that blocks the way to re-birth.
aṟattāṉ varuvatē iṉpam; maṟṟu ellām puṟatta; pukaḻum ila.
Happiness springs only from Dharma. All else is sorrow and merits no praise.

1.2. illaṟ 1.2. illaṟaviyal II. ON DOMESTIC VIRTUE aviyal II. ON DOMESTIC VIRTUE aviyal II. ON DOMESTIC VIRTUE

1. ilvāḻ 5. ilvāḻkkai -CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 5 —ON FAMILY LIFE ON FAMILY LIFE ON FAMILY LIFE

vaiyattuḷ vāḻvāṅku vāḻpavaṉ vāṉ uṟaiyum teyvattuḷ vaikkappaṭum.
He who lives the true life of the householder on earth becomes one among the gods in Heaven.

1. vāḻkkaittu kkaittu kkaittuṇai nalam ai nalam ai nalam -CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 6 —ON WIVES ON WIVES ON WIVES

maṉait takka māṇpu uṭaiyaḷ āki, taṟ koṇṭāṉ vaḷattakkāḷ vāḻkkaittuṇai.
She is the true partner in life who possesses all the wifely virtues and spends according to the income of her husband.

23 52. maṉai māṭci illāḷkaṇ il āyiṉ, vāḻkkai eṉaimāṭcittu āyiṉum, il.
52. Home life shorn of its grace will be barren however pompous it may be.

illatu eṉ, illavaḷ māṇpuāṉāl? uḷḷatu eṉ, illavaḷ māṇākkaṭai?.

1. If the wife abounds in virtues is there anything lacking in home? Lacking which, it

lacks everything.

peṇṇiṉ peruntakka yā uḷa-kaṟpu eṉṉum tiṇmai uṇṭākappeṟiṉ?.

1. Is there anything greater than a woman if only she is the citadel of chastity?

teyvam toḻāaḷ, koḻunaṉ-toḻutu eḻuvāḷ, ‘pey’ eṉa, peyyum maḻai.
Waking up she worships no other god than her husband. Verily at her very bidding it rains.
taṟkāttu, taṟ koṇṭāṟ pēṇi, takai cāṉṟa coṟkāttu, cōrvu ilāḷ-peṇ.
She is the woman who shields herself, serves her wedded lord, maintains her glory and never ceases from her toil.

24 57. ciṟai kākkum kāppu evaṉ ceyyum? makaḷir niṟai kākkum kāppē talai.

1. Of what use is one’s watch and ward? Her chastity is her only shield.

peṟṟāṟ peṟiṉ peṟuvar, peṇṭir, peruñ ciṟappup puttēḷir vāḻum ulaku.
A dutiful wife inherits heaven with all its glory.
pukaḻ purinta il ilōrkku illai-ikaḻvārmuṉ ēṟupōl pīṭu naṭai.
A cuckold knows not the lovely gait of a lion before his detractors.
‘maṅkalam’ eṉpa, maṉaimāṭci; maṟṟu ataṉ naṉkalam naṉ makkaṭ pēṟu.

1. The grace of a home is her virtue. Her blessed children are its adornment.
1. putalvaraip peṟ 7. putalvaraip peṟutal -CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 7 —ON SONS ON SONS ON SONS

peṟumavaṟṟuḷ yām aṟivatu illai-aṟivu aṟinta makkaṭpēṟu alla piṟa.
We do not know of any other asset than that of intelligent off-spring.
eḻupiṟappum tīyavai tīṇṭā-paḻi piṟaṅkāp paṇpuṭai makkaṭ peṟiṉ. 25
All the seven births no evil befalls one who is blest with good and unstained children.
tam poruḷ eṉpa tam makkaḷ; avar poruḷ tamtam viṉaiyāl varum.

1. A man’s riches are his children; their riches are the fruit of their actions.

amiḻtiṉum āṟṟa iṉitē-tam makkaḷ ciṟu kai aḷāviya kūḻ.

1. Sweeter than ambrosia is the food handled by the tender hand of one’s children.

makkaḷ mey tīṇṭal uṭaṟku iṉpam; maṟṟu avar col kēṭṭal iṉpam, cevikku.

1. The delight of the body is the touch of one’s children. The delight of the ear is

their lisp.

‘kuḻal iṉitu; yāḻ iṉitu’ eṉpa-tam makkaḷ maḻalaic col kēḷātavar.
The ‘lute is sweet’, ‘the Veena is sweet’, they say who have not heard the lisp of their little ones.
tantai makaṟku āṟṟum naṉṟi avaiyattu munti iruppac ceyal. 26
The good a father can do his son is to make him occupy the first rank in an assembly.
tammiṉ, tam makkaḷ aṟivuṭaimai mā nilattu maṉ uyirkku ellām iṉitu.

1. Wisdom of the child is not merely the father’s delight but the delight of the world.

īṉṟa poḻutiṉ peritu uvakkum-taṉ makaṉaic cāṉṟōṉ eṉak kēṭṭa tāy.
A mother’s joy to hear of her son’s greatness transcends that at his birth.
makaṉ tantaikku āṟṟum utavi, ‘ivaṉ tantai eṉ nōṟṟāṉkol!’ eṉum col.
The service a son can do his father is to make the public exclaim ‘see, the fruit of his father’s good deeds.’

1. aṉpu uṭaimai -CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8 —LOVING-KINDNESS KINDNESS KINDNESS

aṉpiṟkum uṇṭō, aṭaikkum tāḻ?ārvalar puṉkaṇnīr pūcal tarum.
Is there a bolt to fasten one’s love? The trickling tears at the distress of one’s friends will proclaim the love within.
aṉpu ilār ellām tamakku uriyar; aṉpu uṭaiyār 27 eṉpum uriyar, piṟarkku.
The loveless are full of themselves but the loving lay down their lives for others.
‘aṉpōṭu iyainta vaḻakku’ eṉpa-‘ār uyirkku eṉpōṭu iyainta toṭarpu’.
They say the endless incarnation of one’s spirit is for the fulfilment of love.
aṉpu īṉum ārvam uṭaimai; atu īṉum, ‘naṇpu’ eṉṉum nāṭāc ciṟappu.
Out of love springs kindness. It in turn grows into inestimable prize of friendship.
‘aṉpuṟṟu amarnta vaḻakku’ eṉpa-‘vaiyakattu iṉpuṟṟār eytum ciṟappu’.
The joy of heaven is but the fruit of righteous life rooted in love.
‘aṟattiṟkē aṉpu cārpu’ eṉpa, aṟiyār; maṟattiṟkum aḵtē tuṇai.
The ignorant say that kindness is an ally of virtue. No, it is a defence against evil too.
eṉpu ilataṉai veyil pōlak kāyumēaṉpu ilataṉai aṟam.
The sun dries up a boneless body. Likewise the god of righteousness destroys the loveless one. 28
aṉpu akattu illā uyir vāḻkkai vaṉpāṟkaṇ vaṟṟalmaram taḷirttaṟṟu.
To live a life void of love is like a withered tree bursting into leaf in a barren land.
puṟattu uṟuppu ellām evaṉ ceyyum-yākkai akattu uṟuppu aṉpu ilavarkku?.
What profits one’s outward feature if one’s heart is devoid of love?
aṉpiṉ vaḻiyatu uyirnilai; aḵtu ilārkku eṉpu tōl pōrtta uṭampu.
That body where love dwells is the seat of life; all others are but skin-clad bones.

1. viruntu ōmpal - 9. viruntu ōmpal -Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 —On hospitality On hospitality On hospitality

iruntu ōmpi il vāḻvatu ellām viruntu ōmpi vēḷāṇmai ceytaṟporuṭṭu.
To keep house and to acquire wealth is only to minister to guests.
viruntu puṟattatāt tāṉ uṇṭal, cāvā maruntu eṉiṉum vēṇṭaṟpāṟṟu aṉṟu.
With a guest waiting it would not be proper to eat even though it were nectar.

29 83. varu viruntu vaikalum ōmpuvāṉ vāḻkkai paruvantu pāḻpaṭutal iṉṟu.
83. A life of one who daily looks after the incoming guests will never suffer from poverty.

akaṉ amarntu ceyyāḷ uṟaiyum-mukaṉ amarntu nal viruntu ōmpuvāṉ il.

1. Fortune smiles on the house of one who entertains with cheerful face worthy

guests.

vittum iṭalvēṇṭum kollō-viruntu ōmpi, miccil micaivāṉ pulam?.
Does the field of one who partakes of what remains after entertaining the guest, need to be sown with seeds?
cel viruntu ōmpi, varu viruntu pārttiruppāṉ nal viruntu, vāṉattavarkku.

1. He who cherishes the guests who come to him, and looks forward to new guests,

will himself be the honoured guest of the gods.

iṉait tuṇaittu eṉpatu oṉṟu illai; viruntiṉ tuṇait tuṇai-vēḷvip payaṉ.
The effects of hospitality cannot be exactly measured. They are proportionate to the worth of the guest.

30 88. ‘parintu ōmpi, paṟṟu aṟṟēm’ eṉpar-viruntu ōmpi vēḷvi talaippaṭātār.
88. Those who have failed in their duties to guests will regret the folly of mere hoarding.

uṭaimaiyuḷ iṉmai viruntu ōmpal ōmpā maṭamai; maṭavārkaṇ uṇṭu.

1. To be poor amidst plenty is to despise hospitality. Such folly is only of the

ignorant.

mōppak kuḻaiyum aṉiccam;- mukam tirintu nōkkak kuḻaiyum viruntu.
The aniccam flower withers when smelt, and the guest under a displeased look.

1. iṉiyavai kū iyavai kū iyavai kūṟal -CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 10 —ON SWEET WORDS ON SWEET WORDS ON SWEET WORDS

iṉ col-āl īram aḷaii, paṭiṟu ilaām cemporuḷ kaṇṭār vāyc col.
Sweet are the words that fall from the lips of those who are full of guileless love and truth.
akaṉ amarntu ītaliṉ naṉṟēmukaṉ amarntu iṉcolaṉ ākappeṟiṉ.

1. To speak with a pleasant look is better than to give with a cheerful heart.

mukattāṉ amarntu, iṉitu nōkki, akattāṉ ām iṉ coliṉatē aṟam.
To welcome one with a pleasant look and loving words is righteousness.
tuṉpuṟūum tuvvāmai illākum yārmāṭṭum iṉpuṟūum iṉcolavarkku.
The torment of poverty does not befall those who have a good word to say to all.
paṇivu uṭaiyaṉ, iṉcolaṉ ātal oruvaṟku aṇi; alla, maṟṟup piṟa.
Humility and loving words are only true ornaments. Others are not.
allavai tēya aṟam perukum nallavai nāṭi, iṉiya coliṉ.
Vice wears out and virtue grows in one who speaks kind and wholesome words.
nayaṉ īṉṟu naṉṟi payakkumpayaṉ īṉṟu paṇpiṉ talaippiriyāc col.
Sweetly uttered words that do good to others will light up the path of virtue.
ciṟumaiyuḷ nīṅkiya iṉcol, maṟumaiyum immaiyum, iṉpam tarum. 32
Sweet and inoffensive words yield one happiness both here and hereafter.
iṉ col iṉitu īṉṟal kāṇpāṉ, evaṉkolōvaṉ col vaḻaṅkuvatu?.
Why should a man use harsh words, knowing the pleasure that sweet speech kindles?
iṉiya uḷavāka iṉṉāta kūṟalkaṉi iruppa, kāy kavarntaṟṟu.
Indulging in offensive words and avoiding sweet ones is like prefering the raw to a ripe fruit.

1. ceynnaṉṟ 11. ceynnaṉṟi aṟital -CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 11—ON GRATITUDE ON GRATITUDE ON GRATITUDE

ceyyāmal ceyta utavikku vaiyakamum vāṉakamum āṟṟal aritu.
For the help rendered expecting no return even earth and heaven will prove no recompense.
kālattiṉāl ceyta naṉṟi ciṟitu eṉiṉum, ñālattiṉ māṇap peritu.
A help timely, though small, transcends the world.
payaṉ tūkkār ceyta utavi nayaṉ tūkkiṉ, 33 naṉmai kaṭaliṉ peritu.
Help done expecting no return, if weighed will be vaster than the sea.
tiṉait tuṇai naṉṟi ceyiṉum, paṉait tuṇaiyāk koḷvar-payaṉ terivār.
Small as millet is the help given, the wise hold it as big as a palmyra fruit.
utavi varaittu aṉṟu, utavi; utavi ceyappaṭṭār cālpiṉ varaittu.
Help rendered is not in terms of the return but its value depends on the receiver.
maṟavaṟka, mācu aṟṟār kēṇmai! tuṟavaṟka, tuṉpattuḷ tuppu āyār naṭpu!.
Forget not the companionship of the pure of heart. Give up not the friendship of those who have stood by you in hour of sorrow.
eḻumai eḻu piṟappum uḷḷuvar-tamkaṇ viḻumam tuṭaittavar naṭpu.
The good remember with gratitude, all through seven births, the friendship of those who have wiped out their suffering.
naṉṟi maṟappatu naṉṟu aṉṟu; naṉṟu allatu aṉṟē maṟappatu naṉṟu. 34
It is not good to forget the benefit received; but it is good to forget then and there the injury done by another.
koṉṟaṉṉa iṉṉā ceyiṉum, avar ceyta oṉṟum naṉṟu uḷḷa,keṭum.
The remembrance of one good act done removes from our mind the sting of a deadly injury.
en naṉṟi koṉṟārkkum uyvu uṇṭām; uyvu illai, ceynnaṉṟi koṉṟa makaṟku.
There is salvation to those guilty of any other sin; but there is no redemption for the sin of ingratitude.

1. naṭ 12. naṭuvu nilaimai uvu nilaimai uvu nilaimai -CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 12 —ON EQUITY ON EQUITY ON EQUITY

takuti eṉa oṉṟum naṉṟē-pakutiyāṉ pāṟpaṭṭu oḻukappeṟiṉ.

1. An equity which knows no partiality is in itself a unique virtue.

ceppam uṭaiyavaṉ ākkam citaivu iṉṟi, eccattiṟku ēmāppu uṭaittu.
The wealth of the upright dwindles not and passes on to their posterity.
naṉṟē tariṉum, naṭuvu ikantu ām ākkattai 35 aṉṟē oḻiyaviṭal!.
Give up ill-gotten wealth though it brings in its train prosperity.
takkār takavu ilar eṉpatu avar avar eccattāl kāṇappaṭum.
The just and the unjust are known by the progeny.
kēṭum perukkamum il alla; neñcattuk kōṭāmai cāṉṟōrkku aṇi.
To hold the scales even unmindful of prosperity or adversity is the ornament of the wise.
‘keṭuval yāṉ’ eṉpatu aṟika-taṉ neñcam naṭuvu ōrīi, alla ceyiṉ.
Even an iniquitous thought spells one’s ruin.
keṭuvāka vaiyātu ulakam-naṭuvāka naṉṟikkaṇ taṅkiyāṉ tāḻvu.
The world despises not the poverty of the just.
camaṉ ceytu cīr tūkkum kōlpōl amaintu, orupāl kōṭāmai-cāṉṟōrkku aṇi.
Not to tilt like the well poised balance is the grace of the wise.

36 119. coṟ kōṭṭam illatu, ceppam-orutalaiyā uṭ kōṭṭam iṉmai peṟiṉ.
119. Equity is the impartial expression of an unbiased mind.

vāṇikam ceyvārkku vāṇikam-pēṇip piṟavum tamapōl ceyiṉ.
To deal with others’ goods as their own is the only true trade among traders.

1. aṭakkam u akkam u akkam uṭaimai -CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 13 —ON SELF ON SELF ON SELF-CONTROL CONTROL CONTROL

aṭakkam amararuḷ uykkum; aṭaṅkāmai ār iruḷ uyttuviṭum.
Self-control places one among the gods; lack of it leads one to the darkness of hell.
kākka, poruḷā aṭakkattai-ākkam ataṉiṉ ūṅku illai, uyirkku!.
There is no greater wealth than self-control; treasure it as your wealth.
ceṟivu aṟintu cīrmai payakkum-aṟivu aṟintu āṟṟiṉ aṭaṅkap peṟiṉ.
If one knows the value of self-control and restrains oneself it will bring one fame.

37 124. nilaiyiṉ tiriyātu aṭaṅkiyāṉ tōṟṟam malaiyiṉum māṇap peritu.
124. Loftier than a mountain is the greatness of one who practises self-control.

ellārkkum naṉṟu ām, paṇital; avaruḷḷum celvarkkē celvam takaittu.
Humility becomes all; but it crowns anew the wealthy.
orumaiyuḷ, āmaipōl, aintu aṭakkal āṟṟiṉ, eḻumaiyum ēmāppu uṭaittu.
If one were to withdraw within oneself the five senses like a tortoise, it would afford him protection all the seven births.
yā kāvār āyiṉum, nā kākka; kāvākkāl, cōkāppar, col iḻukkup paṭṭu.
Whatever else you may not control, control your tongue, lest you should repent your indiscreet words.
oṉṟāṉum tīccoṟ poruṭ payaṉ uṇṭāyiṉ, naṉṟu ākātu ākiviṭum.
One would lose the fruits of one’s good actions, if one word of evil were to land another in trouble.
tīyiṉāl cuṭṭa puṇ uḷ āṟum;- āṟātē 38 nāviṉāl cuṭṭa vaṭu.
The blister caused by fire will heal. But the brand of a bitter tongue will never heal.
katam kāttu, kaṟṟu, aṭaṅkal āṟṟuvāṉ cevvi aṟam pārkkum āṟṟiṉ nuḻaintu.
The God of righteousness seeks one who is on guard against anger and attains self-control through knowledge.

1. oḻukkam u ukkam u ukkam uṭaimai -CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 14 —ON RIGHT CONDUCT ON RIGHT CONDUCT ON RIGHT CONDUCT

oḻukkam viḻuppam taralāṉ, oḻukkam uyiriṉum ōmpappaṭum.
Right conduct exalts one. So it should be prized above one’s life.
parintu ōmpik kākka, oḻukkam-terintu ōmpit tēriṉum, aḵtē tuṇai!.
Strive hard to walk in the right path. One finds in it one’s surest ally.
oḻukkam uṭaimai kuṭimai; iḻukkam iḻinta piṟappāyviṭum.
Right conduct ennobles one’s family. Bad conduct makes one sink in the scale.
maṟappiṉum, ottuk koḷal ākum; pārppāṉ 39 piṟappu oḻukkam kuṉṟak keṭum.

1. The Brahman may learn anew the Vedas which he forgot. If he were to fall from

his estate he would be lost.

aḻukkāṟu uṭaiyāṉkaṇ ākkam pōṉṟu illaioḻukkam ilāṉkaṇ uyarvu.
The envious do not prosper; likewise one straying from the right path does not advance.
oḻukkattiṉ olkār uravōr-iḻukkattiṉ ētam paṭupākku aṟintu.
The strong of mind will not shrink from virtue; for they know that any deviation is wrought with dire consequences.
oḻukkattiṉ eytuvar, mēṉmai; iḻukkattiṉ eytuvar, eytāp paḻi.
Men of right conduct are crowned with glory. Men of evil ways are covered with disgrace.
naṉṟikku vittu ākum nal oḻukkam; tī oḻukkam eṉṟum iṭumpai tarum.
Good conduct is the spring of happiness. Bad conduct leads one ever to misery.
oḻukkam uṭaiyavarkku ollāvē-tīya 40 vaḻukkiyum, vāyāl colal.
It is difficult for a man of right conduct to utter evil words even in a forgetful mood.
ulakattōṭu oṭṭa oḻukal, pala kaṟṟum, kallār aṟivilātār.
Those who cannot move in harmony with the world are learned fools.

1. piṟ 15. piṟaṉil viḻaiyāmai aiyāmai aiyāmai -CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 15 —ON ADULTERY ON ADULTERY ON ADULTERY

piṟaṉ poruḷāḷ-peṭṭu oḻukum pētaimai ñālattu aṟam, poruḷ, kaṇṭārkaṇ il.
The folly of intriguing with another’s wife is not found in one versed in the laws of truth and wealth.
aṟaṉkaṭai niṉṟāruḷ ellām, piṟaṉkaṭai niṉṟāriṉ, pētaiyār il.
Among those who walk in the ways of sin, the most foolish are those who stand at the entrance of another’s (house).
viḷintāriṉ vēṟu allar maṉṟa-teḷintār il tīmai purintu oḻukuvār.
They are as good as dead who misbehave towards the wives of their confiding friends.

41 144. eṉait tuṇaiyar āyiṉum eṉṉām-tiṉait tuṇaiyum tērāṉ, piṟaṉ il pukala?.
144. What avails one’s greatness if one desecrates the sanctity of the house of another reckless of the consequences.

’eḷitu’ eṉa il iṟappāṉ eytum-eñ ñāṉṟum viḷiyātu niṟkum paḻi.
He who invades (easily) the house of another thinking it a mere trifie will incur eternal infamy.
pakai, pāvam, accam, paḻi eṉa nāṉkum ikavā ām-il iṟappāṉkaṇ.
Four evils, enmity, sin, fear and disgrace dog one who covets another’s wife.
aṟaṉ iyalāṉ ilvāḻvāṉ eṉpāṉ-piṟaṉ iyalāḷ peṇmai nayavātavaṉ.
He is a true householder who does not love another man’s wife.
piṟaṉ maṉai nōkkāta pēr āṇmai, cāṉṟōrkku aṟaṉ oṉṟō?āṉṟa oḻukku.
The heroic manhood that does not lust after another’s wife is to the wise not mere virtue but the very law of their being.

42 149. ’nalakku uriyār yār?’ eṉiṉ, nāma nīr vaippil piṟaṟku uriyāḷ tōḷ tōyātār.
149. Verily he is a gentleman on this sea-girt earth who is free from the sin of adultery.

aṟaṉ varaiyāṉ, alla ceyiṉum, piṟaṉ varaiyāḷ peṇmai nayavāmai naṉṟu.
One may be guilty of any other sins; let one be free from adultery.

1. poṟ 16. poṟai uṭaimai -CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 16 —ON PATIE ON PATIE ON PATIENCE

akaḻvārait tāṅkum nilam pōla, tammai ikaḻvārp poṟuttal talai.
The earth sustains even those who dig into her. To bear with those who slander us is the crown of virtue.
poṟuttal, iṟappiṉai eṉṟum; ataṉai maṟattal ataṉiṉum naṉṟu.
Put up always with one’s transgressions. Far greater than one’s forbearance is one’s oblivion of them.
iṉmaiyuḷ iṉmai viruntu orāl; vaṉmaiyuḷ vaṉmai maṭavārp poṟai.
Poverty within poverty is denying hospitality to guests; grace within grace is bearing with the foolish. 43
niṟai uṭaimai nīṅkāmai vēṇṭiṉ, poṟai uṭaimai pōṟṟi oḻukappaṭum.

1. If one wishes to maintain character one’s conduct must be marked by patience.

oṟuttārai oṉṟāka vaiyārē; vaippar, poṟuttāraip poṉpōl potintu.
The world takes no note of the avenger but it esteems the patient like gold.
oṟuttārkku oru nāḷai iṉpam; poṟuttārkkup poṉṟum tuṇaiyum pukaḻ.
The delight of the avenger is for a day. The joy of the forbearing lasts till the end of the earth.
tiṟaṉ alla taṉ-piṟar ceyyiṉum, nō nontu, aṟaṉ alla ceyyāmai naṉṟu.
Resist not a wrong however grievous but forgive out of pity other’s transgressions.
mikutiyāṉ mikkavai ceytārait tām tam takutiyāṉ veṉṟuviṭal!.
Conquer with forbearance one who has done you harm in one’s insolent pride.

44 159. tuṟantāriṉ tūymai uṭaiyar-iṟantārvāy iṉṉāc col nōṟkiṟpavar.
159. Greater than an ascetic is one who endures the insolent words of the transgressor.

uṇṇātu nōṟpār periyar-piṟar collum iṉṉāc col nōṟpāriṉ piṉ.
Great are those who fast and do penance but greater than they are those who put up with insults.

1. aḻukkāṟāmai -CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 17 —ON ENVY ON ENVY ON ENVY

oḻukku āṟāk koḷka-oruvaṉ taṉ neñcattu aḻukkāṟu ilāta iyalpu.
Let no one have envy; for freedom from envy must be one’s virtue.
viḻup pēṟṟiṉ aḵtu oppatu illai-yārmāṭṭum aḻukkāṟṟiṉ aṉmai peṟiṉ.
Envy none; there is no other possession greater than one’s freedom from it.
aṟaṉ, ākkam, vēṇṭātāṉ eṉpāṉ piṟaṉ ākkam pēṇātu aḻukkaṟuppāṉ.

1. He who envies other’s riches neither loves virtue nor wealth.

45 164. aḻukkāṟṟiṉ allavai ceyyār-iḻukku āṟṟiṉ ētam paṭupākku aṟintu.
164. The wise do not commit any wrong out of envy; for, they know the evils that spring from it.

aḻukkāṟu uṭaiyārkku atu cālum- oṉṉār vaḻukkiyum kēṭu īṉpatu.
The envious need no enemies to work their own ruin; for they find in their envy their sufficient foe.
koṭuppatu aḻukkaṟuppāṉ cuṟṟam uṭuppatūum uṇpatūum iṉṟik keṭum.

1. The envious that stand in the way of charity perish with their kith and kin.

avvittu aḻukkāṟu uṭaiyāṉaic ceyyavaḷ tavvaiyaik kāṭṭi viṭum.
Fortune forsakes the envious to her elder sister.
aḻukkāṟu eṉa oru pāvi tiruc ceṟṟu, tīyuḻi uyttuviṭum.
Envy is a deadly sin. It blights one’s fortune and casts one into hell.
avviya neñcattāṉ ākkamum, cevviyāṉ kēṭum, niṉaikkappaṭum. 46
The prosperity of the envious and the adversity of the virtuous afford food for reflection.
aḻukkaṟṟu akaṉṟārum illai; aḵtu illār perukkattiṉ tīrntārum il.
Envy never thrives; fortune never forsakes one who is free from it.

1. veḵ 18. veḵkāmai -CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 18 —ON NON-COVETING COVETING COVETING

naṭuvu iṉṟi naṉ poruḷ veḵkiṉ, kuṭi poṉṟi, kuṟṟamum āṅkē tarum.
Iniquitous coveting of wealth results in the ruin of one’s home and brings in its train many sins.
paṭu payaṉ veḵki, paḻippaṭuva ceyyārnaṭuvu aṉmai nāṇupavar.
Those who stand for equity do not commit sinful acts through covetousness.
ciṟṟiṉpam veḵki, aṟaṉ alla ceyyārēmaṟṟu iṉpam vēṇṭupavar.
Those who seek eternal happiness will never commit unrighteous acts through love of low pleasures.
‘ilam’ eṉṟu veḵkutal ceyyār-pulam veṉṟa 47 puṉmai il kāṭciyavar.
The spotless wise who have conquered their senses though destitute, will not covet other’s wealth.
aḵki akaṉṟa aṟivu eṉ ām-yārmāṭṭum veḵki, veṟiya ceyiṉ?.
Of what avail is one’s keen and penetrating intellect if one through covetousness acts foolishly?
aruḷ veḵki, āṟṟiṉkaṇ niṉṟāṉ, poruḷ veḵkip pollāta cūḻa, keṭum.
Even he who treads the path of grace comes to ruin through covetous intentions.
vēṇṭaṟka, veḵki ām ākkam-viḷaivayiṉ māṇṭaṟku aritu ām payaṉ!.
Covet not other’s wealth for out of covetousness spring evils.
‘aḵkāmai celvattiṟku yātu?’ eṉiṉ, veḵkāmai vēṇṭum piṟaṉ kaip poruḷ.
Preservation of one’s property lies through one’s freedom from covetousness.
aṟaṉ aṟintu veḵkā aṟivu uṭaiyārc cērumtiṟaṉ aṟintu āṅkē tiru. 48
The wise who know what is righteous covet not; the Goddess of Fortune would seek them unbidden.
iṟal īṉum, eṇṇātu veḵkiṉ; viṟal īṉum, vēṇṭāmai eṉṉum cerukku.
A blind covetousness brings about one’s ruin. Freedom from it begets one’s triumph.

1. puṟ 19. puṟam kūṟāmai -CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 19 —ON NOT BACK ON NOT BACK ON NOT BACK-BITING

aṟam kūṟāṉ, alla ceyiṉum, oruvaṉ puṟam kūṟāṉ eṉṟal iṉitu.
One may be guilty of wrongful deeds, but let not one be guilty of slander.
aṟaṉ aḻīi allavai ceytaliṉ tītēpuṟaṉ aḻīip poyttu nakai.
More heinous than sin is the deceitful smile of a slanderer.
puṟam kūṟi, poyttu, uyir vāḻtaliṉ, cātal aṟam kūṟum ākkam tarum.
Prefer death to a life of slander; for one finds in it the fruit of one’s virtue.
kaṇ niṉṟu, kaṇ aṟac colliṉum, collaṟkamuṉ iṉṟu piṉ nōkkāc col. 49
Talk your bitterest to one’s face but abstain from wanton slander.
aṟam collum neñcattāṉ aṉmai puṟam collum puṉmaiyāl kāṇappaṭum.
The tongue of the base slanderer that talks of virtue belies his heart.
piṟaṉ paḻi kūṟuvāṉ taṉ paḻiyuḷḷum tiṟaṉ terintu kūṟappaṭum.
Ye scandal-mongers, beware of your being scandalized.
pakac collik kēḷirp pirippar-nakac colli naṭpu āṭal tēṟṟātavar.
Those who alienate friends by back-biting may have forgotten the art of making friends through suavity of speech.
tuṉṉiyār kuṟṟamum tūṟṟum marapiṉār, eṉṉaikol, ētilārmāṭṭu?.
Those who trumpet the faults of their closest friends, what would they not do in the case of strangers?
aṟaṉ nōkki āṟṟum kol vaiyam-puṟaṉ nōkkip puṉ col uraippāṉ poṟai.
How the earth bears the heavy burden of one who scandalises others! Perhaps patience is her virtue. 50
ētilār kuṟṟampōl tam kuṟṟam kāṇkiṟpiṉ, tītu uṇṭō, maṉṉum uyirakku?.
Will ever harm befall one who looks upon the faults of others as one’s own?

1. payaṉ 20. payaṉila collāmai ila collāmai ila collāmai -CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 20 —ON FRIVOLITY OF SPEECH ON FRIVOLITY OF SPEECH ON FRIVOLITY OF SPEECH

pallār muṉiyap payaṉ ila colluvāṉ ellārum eḷḷappaṭum.
He who revels in frivolous talk will be despised by all.
payaṉ ila pallārmuṉ collal, nayaṉ ila naṭṭārkaṇ ceytaliṉ tītu.
To talk frivolously in the presence of many is worse than an unjust act towards friends.
nayaṉ ilaṉ eṉpatu collum-payaṉ ila pārittu uraikkum urai.
Indulgence in useless words at once betrays one’s lack of probity.
nayaṉ cārā naṉmaiyiṉ nīkkum-payaṉ cārāp paṇpu il col pallārakattu.
Uttering empty words before all deprives one of one’s sense of justice and mars one’s noble qualities. 51
cīrmai ciṟappoṭu nīṅkum-payaṉ ila nīrmai uṭaiyār coliṉ.
If good-natured men speak profitless words, their greatness and glory will disappear.
payaṉ il col pārāṭṭuvāṉai makaṉ eṉal! makkaṭ pataṭi eṉal!.

1. He is not a man but the chaff among men, who indulges in vain words.

nayaṉ ila colliṉum colluka! cāṉṟōr payaṉ ila collāmai naṉṟu.
Let great men speak untruth; it is better they refrain from uttering useless words.
arum payaṉ āyum aṟiviṉār collārperum payaṉ illāta col.
Men of great discernment will never speak words devoid of great import.
poruḷ tīrnta poccāntum collār-maruḷ tīrnta mācu aṟu kāṭciyavar.
Men of unclouded wisdom never utter nonsense even in a forgetful mood.
colluka, collil payaṉ uṭaiya! collaṟka, 52 collil payaṉ ilāc col!.
Speak profitable words; avoid nonsense.

1. tīviṉ 21. tīviṉai accam ai accam ai accam -CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 21 —ON FEAR OF EVIL DEEDS ON FEAR OF EVIL DEEDS ON FEAR OF EVIL DEEDS

tīviṉaiyār añcār; viḻumiyār añcuvartīviṉai eṉṉum cerukku.
Men hardened in sins do not fear evil; but the good dread it.
tīyavai tīya payattalāṉ, tīyavai tīyiṉum añcappaṭum.
Evil is to be dreaded more than fire; for it lands one in disaster.
aṟiviṉuḷ ellām talai eṉpa-tīya ceṟuvārkkum ceyyā viṭal.
Not to return evil to those who do evil unto you, is, they say, the crown of wisdom.
maṟantum piṟaṉ kēṭu cūḻaṟka! cūḻiṉ, aṟam cūḻum, cūḻntavaṉ kēṭu.
Let none plot evil to others even in forgetfulness. If he does so, the God of Righteousness will compass his ruin.
‘ilaṉ’ eṉṟu tīyavai ceyyaṟka! ceyyiṉ, 53 ilaṉ ākum, maṟṟum peyarttu.
Let none do wrong on account of poverty; if he does so he becomes poorer still.
tīp pāla tāṉ piṟarkaṇ ceyyaṟka-nōyp pāla taṉṉai aṭal vēṇṭātāṉ!.
Let not one do evil unto others, if one wants to be free from affliction.
eṉaip pakai uṟṟārum uyvar; viṉaip pakai vīyātu, piṉ ceṉṟu, aṭum.
You may escape your enemies but your evil follows you and hunts you down relentlessly.
tīyavai ceytār keṭutal niḻal taṉṉai vīyātu aṭi uṟaintaṟṟu.
Evil dogs you close on your heels like a shadow.
taṉṉait tāṉ kātalaṉ āyiṉ, eṉaittu oṉṟum tuṉṉaṟka, tīviṉaip pāl!.
If one really loves oneself let one not do any harm to others.
aruṅ kēṭaṉ eṉpatu aṟika-maruṅku ōṭit tīviṉai ceyyāṉ eṉiṉ?.
Hardly doth sorrow befall one who does not deviate from right.

1. oppuravu aṟ 22. oppuravu aṟital -CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 22 —ON DECORUM ON DECORUM ON DECORUM

kaimmāṟu vēṇṭā kaṭappāṭu; mārimāṭṭu eṉ āṟṟum kollō, ulaku?.
Do not expect any return for the services (duty) done. What does the world give in exchange for the clouds that pour rain?
tāḷ āṟṟit tanta poruḷ ellām takkārkku vēḷāṇmai ceytaṟporuṭṭu.
All the wealth one earns is for rendering help to the deserving.
puttēḷ ulakattum, īṇṭum, peṟal aritēoppuraviṉ nalla piṟa.
Is there anything greater than decorum either here or in the world to come?
ottatu aṟivāṉ uyir vāḻvāṉ; maṟṟaiyāṉ cettāruḷ vaikkappaṭum.
Verily he is alive who is in harmony with the world; others should be ranked with the dead.
ūruṇi nīr niṟaintaṟṟē-ulaku avām pēr aṟivāḷaṉ tiru.
The wealth of the wise is a never-failing spring.

55 216. payaṉ maram uḷḷūrp paḻuttaṟṟāl-celvam nayaṉ uṭaiyāṉkaṇ paṭiṉ.
216. The wealth of the truly liberal is like a tree ripening in the heart of a village.

maruntu ākit tappā marattaṟṟāl-celvam peruntakaiyāṉkaṇ paṭiṉ.
The wealth of the generous is like a healing medicinal tree.
iṭaṉ il paruvattum, oppuraviṟku olkārkaṭaṉ aṟi kāṭciyavar.
Even in poverty the truly discerning never ceases to be liberal.
nayaṉ uṭaiyāṉ nalkūrntāṉ ātal ceyum nīra ceyyātu amaikalā āṟu.
The poverty of the liberal of heart is his failure in the offices of tenderness.
‘oppuraviṉāl varum, kēṭu’ eṉiṉ, aḵtu oruvaṉ viṟṟuk kōḷ takkatu uṭaittu.

1. The poverty that results from a just course of action is worth purchasing by

going into the very bond of slavery.

1. īkai - 23. īkai -CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 23—ON LIBERALITY ON LIBERALITY ON LIBERALITY

vaṟiyārkku oṉṟu īvatē īkai; maṟṟu ellām kuṟiyetirppai nīratu uṭaittu.

1. Gift to the poor alone is true charity. Everything else is of the nature of a barter.

’nallāṟu’ eṉiṉum, koḷal tītu; ‘mēl ulakam il’ eṉiṉum, ītalē naṉṟu.
Receiving gifts is bad though one is assured of heaven. Bestowing gifts is good, though thereby one should be bereft of it.
‘ilaṉ’ eṉṉum evvam uraiyāmai ītal kulaṉ uṭaiyāṉkaṇṇē uḷa.

1. The innately noble never beg but give ere charity begins.

iṉṉātu, irakkappaṭutal-irantavar iṉ mukam kāṇum aḷavu.

1. Even to be begged is miserable for we feel wretched till the beggar’s face is lit

with joy.

āṟṟuvār āṟṟal paci āṟṟal; ap paciyai māṟṟuvār āṟṟaliṉ piṉ.
Endurance of one’s hunger is the test of one’s penance. Far greater than that endurance is the spirit of appeasing the hunger of others. 57
aṟṟār aḻi paci tīrttal! aḵtu oruvaṉ peṟṟāṉ poruḷ vaippu uḻi.

1. Let the rich appease the devouring hunger of the indigent poor. It is a charity

rendered unto themselves.

pāttu ūṇ marīiyavaṉaip paci eṉṉum tīp piṇi tīṇṭal aritu.

1. The pest of hunger never touches one who shares one’s food with the poor.

īttu uvakkum iṉpam aṟiyārkol-tām uṭaimai vaittu iḻakkum vaṉ kaṇavar?.

1. The callous rich hide their barren metal; perhaps they know not the joy of giving.

irattaliṉ iṉṉātu maṉṟa-nirappiya tāmē tamiyar uṇal.
More squalid than begging is a life of self-indulgence.
cātaliṉ iṉṉātatu illai; iṉitu, atūum ītal iyaiyākkaṭai.
Death indeed is the greatest calamity; worse than death is one’s failure in charity.

1. pukaḻ 24. pukaḻ-CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 24 -ON RENOWN ON RENOWN ON RENOWN

ītal! icaipaṭa vāḻtal! atu allatu ūtiyam illai, uyirkku.

1. Give and make a name. There is no greater gain to man than such a renown.

uraippār uraippavai ellām irappārkku oṉṟu īvārmēl niṟkum pukaḻ.

1. The one undying theme of praise is the praise of charity.

oṉṟā ulakattu uyarnta pukaḻ allāl, poṉṟātu niṟpatu oṉṟu il.
Nothing lasts save one’s fearless renown.
nila varai nīḷ pukaḻ āṟṟiṉ, pulavaraip pōṟṟātu, puttēḷ ulaku.
The wise are not favoured of the gods; but the’ renowned on earth are adored by them.
nattampōl kēṭum, uḷatākum cākkāṭum, vittakarkku allāl aritu.
Out of death and ruin the wise fashion things enduring.
tōṉṟiṉ, pukaḻoṭu tōṉṟuka! aḵtu ilār 59 tōṉṟaliṉ tōṉṟāmai naṉṟu.

1. Let man be born to achieve renown. Let not the unrenowned see the light of

day.

pukaḻpaṭa vāḻātār tam nōvār, tammai ikaḻvārai nōvatu evaṉ?.

1. Let the inglorious blame themselves. Let them not reproach others.

‘vacai’ eṉpa, vaiyattārkku ellām-’icai’ eṉṉum eccam peṟāaviṭiṉ.

1. World’s reproach befalls one who does not achieve lasting fame.

vacai ilā vaṇ payaṉ kuṉṟum-icai ilā yākkai poṟutta nilam.

1. In a land which bears the burden of the unrenowned even nature’s bounty is on

the wane.

vacai oḻiya vāḻvārē vāḻvār; icai oḻiya vāḻvārē vāḻātavar.
The unblemished truly live; the unrenowned merely exist.

End of the Section on Domestic Life

60 1.3. tuṟ 1.3. tuṟavaṟaviyal -III. ON RENUNCIATION III. ON RENUNCIATION III. ON RENUNCIATION

1. aruḷ 25. aruḷuṭaimai -CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 25 —ON COMPASSION ON COMPASSION ON COMPASSION

aruṭ celvam, celvattuḷ celvam; poruṭ celvam pūriyārkaṇṇum uḷa.
The crown of wealth is one’s compassion; all other wealth is found even among meanest of men.
nal āṟṟāṉ nāṭi aruḷ āḷka! pal āṟṟāṉ tēriṉum aḵtē tuṇai.
Be compassionate; for compassion is the pivot of all tenets.
aruḷ cērnta neñciṉārkku illai-iruḷ cērnta iṉṉā ulakam pukal.
The compassionate know not hell.
‘maṉ uyir ōmpi, aruḷ āḷvāṟku il’ eṉpa- ‘taṉ uyir añcum viṉai’.
Freedom from dread of sin is only for the compassionate that love all creation.
allal, aruḷ āḷvārkku illai; vaḷi vaḻaṅkum mallal mā ñālam kari.
The compassionate know not life’s agonies; verily the wind-blown earth is witness to it.

61 246. ‘poruḷ nīṅkip poccāntār’ eṉpar-‘aruḷ nīṅki allavai ceytu oḻukuvār’.
246. The cruel that delight in sin perhaps know not what awaits them.

aruḷ illārkku av ulakam illai-poruḷ illārkku iv ulakam illākiyāṅku.
Heaven is not for the unfeeling; earth is not for the indigent.
poruḷ aṟṟār pūppar orukāl; aruḷ aṟṟār aṟṟār; maṟṟu ātal aritu.
Fortune may smile on the ruined; the un feeling are the unredeemed.
teruḷātāṉ meypporuḷ kaṇṭaṟṟāl-tēriṉ, aruḷātāṉ ceyyum aṟam.
Behold the unfeeling seeking virtue; it is like ignorance seeing light.
valiyār muṉ taṉṉai niṉaikka-tāṉ taṉṉiṉ meliyārmēl cellum iṭattu.
Oppress not the weak; remember your fate in stronger hands.

1. pulāl maṟ 26. pulāl maṟuttal -CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 26 —ON ABSTAINING FROM MEAT ON ABSTAINING FROM MEAT ON ABSTAINING FROM MEAT

taṉ ūṉ perukkaṟkut tāṉ piṟitu ūṉ uṇpāṉ eṅṅaṉam āḷum aruḷ?. 62
He who fattens on the flesh of animals, can he ever understand the rule of love?
poruḷ āṭci pōṟṟātārkku illai; aruḷ āṭci āṅku illai, ūṉ tiṉpavarkku.
Wealth is not for the unwary. Compassion is not for the flesh-eater.
paṭai koṇṭār neñcam pōl naṉṟu ūkkātu-oṉṟaṉ uṭal cuvai uṇṭār maṉam.
The heart of a flesh-eater is devoid of love like that of the wielder of a deadly weapon.
‘aruḷ’, allatu, yātu?’ eṉiṉ,-kollāmai, kōṟal: poruḷ allatu, av ūṉ tiṉal.
What is compassion but refraining from killing; what is sin but eating flesh?
uṇṇāmai uḷḷatu uyirnilai; ūṉ uṇṇa, aṇṇāttal ceyyātu, aḷaṟu.
Will there be throb of life when there is flesh-eating? Will there be any escape from hell for the flesh-eater?
tiṉaṟporuṭṭāl kollātu ulaku eṉiṉ, yārum vilaip poruṭṭāl ūṉ taruvār il.
Would there be meat for sale, if men were not to kill animals for eating flesh?

63 257. uṇṇāmai vēṇṭum, pulāal-piṟitu oṉṟaṉ puṇ; atu uṇarvārp peṟiṉ.
257. If one realises that meat is nothing but the wound of another creature, one refrains from eating it.

ceyiriṉ talaip pirinta kāṭciyār uṇṇār, uyiriṉ talaippirinta ūṉ.
Men of clear vision abstain from the flesh of a slaughtered animal.
avi corintu āyiram vēṭṭaliṉ, oṉṟaṉ uyir cekuttu uṇṇāmai naṉṟu.
Far nobler than a thousand oblations on fire is an act of abstinence from flesh.
kollāṉ, pulālai maṟuttāṉaik kaikūppi, ellā uyirum toḻum.
The whole world folds its hands in prayer to one who kills not and abjures flesh.

1. tavam - 27. tavam -CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 27 —ON PENANCE ON PENANCE ON PENANCE

uṟṟa nōy nōṉṟal, uyirkku uṟukaṇ ceyyāmai, aṟṟē-tavattiṟku uru.
The true form of penance is to put up with all pain and to abstain from injury.

64 262. tavamum tavam uṭaiyārkku ākum; avam, ataṉai aḵtu ilār mēṟkoḷvatu.
262. Penance is possible only for the disciplined. Disgrace attends the undisciplined.

tuṟantārkkut tuppuravu vēṇṭi, maṟantārkolmaṟṟaiyavarkaḷ, tavam!.
In their ministering to the needs of the ascetic, verily the householders have become oblivious of their penance.
oṉṉārt teṟalum, uvantārai ākkalum, eṇṇiṉ, tavattāṉ varum.
Penance, if it wills can mar its foe, or bless its friend.
vēṇṭiya vēṇṭiyāṅku eytalāṉ, cey tavam īṇṭu muyalappaṭum.

1. They persevere in penance; for through penance they achieve their desired

goal.

tavam ceyvār tam karumam ceyvār; maṟṟu allār avam ceyvār, ācaiyuḷ paṭṭu.
To do penance is to be alive to one’s duty; those enmeshed in desire come to ruin.
cuṭac cuṭarum poṉpōl oḷiviṭum-tuṉpam 65 cuṭaccuṭa nōṟkiṟpavarkku.
Gold shines all the more in fire; those who do penance become mellowed through suffering.
taṉ uyir tāṉ aṟap peṟṟāṉai ēṉaiya maṉ uyir ellām toḻum.
The world worships one who has regained one’s soul.
kūṟṟam kutittalum kaikūṭum-nōṟṟaliṉ āṟṟal talaippaṭṭavarkku.
Men at the height of their penance can triumph over even death.
ilar palar ākiya kāraṇam-nōṟpār cilar; palar nōlātavar.
Many are the indigent; for only a few practise penance.

1. kūṭ 28. kūṭā oḻukkam -CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 28—ON IMPROPER CONDUCT ON IMPROPER CONDUCT ON IMPROPER CONDUCT

vañca maṉattāṉ paṭiṟṟu oḻukkam pūtaṅkaḷ aintum akattē nakum.
A man’s five senses will laugh within at the false conduct of a deceitful mind.
vāṉ uyar tōṟṟam evaṉ ceyyum-taṉ neñcam tāṉ aṟi kuṟṟapaṭiṉ?. 66
Of what avail is a man’s saintly mien, if his mind is bent on evil?
vali il nilaimaiyāṉ val uruvam peṟṟam puliyiṉ tōl pōrttu mēyntaṟṟu.
The ascetic appearance of one who has no strength of will, is like that of an ox grazing in the guise of a tiger.
tavam maṟaintu, allavai ceytal-putalmaṟaintu vēṭṭuvaṉ puḷ cimiḻttaṟṟu.
Committing evil under the mask of holiness is like the hunter lying in wait for birds.
‘paṟṟu aṟṟēm’ eṉpār paṭiṟṟu oḻukkam. ‘eṟṟu! eṟṟu!’ eṉṟu ētam palavum tarum.
The hypocrisy of one who professes asceticism lands one in endless troubles.
neñciṉ tuṟavār, tuṟantārpōl vañcittu, vāḻvāriṉ vaṉkaṇār il.
There is none so hardened in vice as one who though hollow at heart, wears the mask of saintliness.
puṟam kuṉṟi kaṇṭaṉaiyarēṉum, akam kuṉṟi mūkkil kariyār uṭaittu. 67
This world contains (many) men who like the Kunri seed are fair of face but foul of heart.
maṉattatu mācu āka, māṇṭār nīr āṭi, maṟaintu oḻukum māntar palar.
There are many insincere men who frequent sacred waters to pass for holy men.
kaṇai koṭitu; yāḻ kōṭu cevvitu; āṅku aṉṉa viṉaipaṭu pālāl koḷal.
The arrow, though straight is deadly; the yāl though crooked is sweet. Let people be judged by their actions.
maḻittalum nīṭṭalum vēṇṭā- ulakam paḻittatu oḻittuviṭiṉ.
If persons abstain from deeds condemned by the world there is no need either for tonsure or for matted locks.

1. kaḷḷ 29. kaḷḷāmai -CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 29—ON NON-STEALING STEALING STEALING

eḷḷāmai vēṇṭuvāṉ eṉpāṉ eṉaittu oṉṟum kaḷḷāmai kākka, taṉ neñcu!.
He who wants to command respect must guard his mind against robbing others.

68 282. uḷḷattāl uḷḷalum tītē; ‘piṟaṉ poruḷaik kaḷḷattāl kaḷvēm’ eṉal!.
282. It is a sin to lust for another’s belongings.

kaḷaviṉāl ākiya ākkam, aḷavu iṟantu, āvatu pōla, keṭum.
Ill-gotten wealth however vast comes to nought.
kaḷaviṉkaṇ kaṉṟiya kātal viḷaiviṉkaṇ vīyā viḻumam tarum.
Inordinate desire to steal brings in its train endless suffering.
aruḷ karuti aṉpuṭaiyar ātal poruḷ karutip poccāppup pārppārkaṇ il.
Can ever grace and love be found in one who exploits the unwary?
aḷaviṉkaṇ niṉṟu oḻukalāṟṟār-kaḷaviṉkaṇ kaṉṟiya kātalavar.
Those who have a burning desire to steal cannot walk in the path of virtue.
kaḷavu eṉṉum kār aṟivu āṇmai aḷavu eṉṉum āṟṟal purintārkaṇ il.
The dark thought of stealing is absent in those who are alive to the value of life.

69 288. aḷavu aṟintār neñcattu aṟampōla, niṟkum, kaḷavu aṟintār neñcil karavu.
288. Virtue dwells in the person of known probity; deceit dwells in persons addicted to stealing.

aḷavu alla ceytu, āṅkē vīvar-kaḷavu alla maṟṟaiya tēṟṟātavar.
Those who know nothing else than stealing will indulge in unrighteous acts and forthwith perish.
kaḷvārkkut taḷḷum, uyirnilai; kaḷḷārkkut taḷḷātu, puttēḷ ulaku.
Their very bodies fail the defrauding. The world of the gods fail not the upright.

1. vāymai - 30. vāymai -CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 30—ON TRUTH ON TRUTH ON TRUTH

‘vāymai eṉappaṭuvatu yātu?’ eṉiṉ, yātu oṉṟum tīmai ilāta colal.
What is truth but unsullied utterance?
poymmaiyum vāymai iṭatta-purai tīrnta naṉmai payakkum eṉiṉ.
Even untruth has the stamp of truth, if it is free from harm.

70 293. taṉ neñcu aṟivatu poyyaṟka; poyttapiṉ, taṉ neñcē taṉṉaic cuṭum.
293. Let none utter a falsehood against his conscience lest it should torment him.

uḷḷattāl poyyātu oḻukiṉ, ulakattār uḷḷattuḷ ellām uḷaṉ.
One sits high in the hearts of all who is true to oneself.
maṉattoṭu vāymai moḻiyiṉ, tavattoṭu tāṉam ceyvāriṉ talai.
Far greater than a benefactor or an ascetic is one whose words come from the depths of truth.
poyyāmai aṉṉa pukaḻ illai; eyyāmai, ellā aṟamum tarum.
One’s renown is rooted only in truth; it leads one easily to every other virtue.
poyyāmai poyyāmai āṟṟiṉ, aṟam piṟa ceyyāmai ceyyāmai naṉṟu.
Practise truth, you need not practise any other virtue.
puṟam tūymai nīrāl amaiyum;- akam tūymai vāymaiyāl kāṇappaṭum. 71
Water cleanses the body; truth cleanses the soul.
ellā viḷakkum viḷakku alla; cāṉṟōrkkup poyyā viḷakkē viḷakku.
All lamps are not lamps. To the great the lamp of truth is the lamp.
yām meyyāk kaṇṭavaṟṟuḷ, illai-eṉaittu oṉṟum vāymaiyiṉ nalla piṟa.
In all the scriptures we have read, there is no virtue greater than truth.

1. vekuḷ 31. vekuḷāmai -CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 31—ON NOT GETTING ANGRY ON NOT GETTING ANGRY ON NOT GETTING ANGRY

cel iṭattuk kāppāṉ ciṉam kāppāṉ; al iṭattu, kākkiṉ eṉ? kāvākkāl eṉ?.
He who restrains his wrath where it can be vented shows real restraint. What does it matter whether one restrains it or not in an unavailing hour?
cellā iṭattuc ciṉam tītu; cel iṭattum, il, ataṉiṉ tīya piṟa.
Anger is bad even where it is unavailing; but where it can be effectively exercised there is no worse evil.
maṟattal, vekuḷiyai yārmāṭṭum-tīya piṟattal ataṉāṉ varum. 72
Do not get angry with any one; for out of anger springs forth a host of evils.
nakaiyum uvakaiyum kollum ciṉattiṉ pakaiyum uḷavō, piṟa?.
Is there any enemy other than anger that kills both joy and pleasure?
taṉṉait tāṉ kākkiṉ, ciṉam kākka! kāvākkāl, taṉṉaiyē kollum, ciṉam.
If a man were to guard himself let him restrain anger. Otherwise anger gets the better of him.
ciṉam eṉṉum cērntāraikkolli iṉam eṉṉum ēmap puṇaiyaic cuṭum.
Anger destroys even one’s kindred who is the canoe of his life.
ciṉattaip poruḷ eṉṟu koṇṭavaṉ kēṭu nilattu aṟaintāṉ kai piḻaiyātaṟṟu.
The ruin of one who nourishes wrath is as certain as the injury to one’s hands when beat on the ground.
iṇar eri tōyvaṉṉa iṉṉā ceyiṉum, puṇariṉ vekuḷāmai naṉṟu.
It is better you show no wrath even against one who inflicts on you harm scorching you like a thousand-tongued flame. 73
uḷḷiya ellām uṭaṉ eytum-uḷḷattāl uḷḷāṉ vekuḷi eṉiṉ.
Banish anger from your mind; you get all that you long for.
iṟantār iṟantār aṉaiyar; ciṉattait tuṟantār tuṟantār tuṇai.
Men given to wrath are one with the devil; Men free from it are one with the immortals.

1. iṉṉ 32. iṉṉā ceyyāmai ā ceyyāmai ā ceyyāmai -CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 32—ON NOT DOING EVIL ON NOT DOING EVIL ON NOT DOING EVIL

ciṟappu īṉum celvam peṟiṉum, piṟarkku iṉṉā ceyyāmai mācu aṟṟār kōḷ.
It is the nature of the spotless not to inflict suffering on others, though by it they may get wealth and renown.
kaṟuttu iṉṉā ceyta akkaṇṇum, maṟuttu iṉṉā ceyyāmai mācu aṟṟār kōḷ.
It is the nature of the stainless not to resist evil.
ceyyāmal ceṟṟārkkum iṉṉāta ceytapiṉ, uyyā viḻumam tarum.
Even our vengeance for a wanton injury results in our own unbearable sorrow. 74
iṉṉā ceytārai oṟuttal avar nāṇa nal nayam ceytu, viṭal.
The noblest revenge is to put the foe to the blush by our acts of kindness.
aṟiviṉāṉ ākuvatu uṇṭō-piṟitiṉ nōy tam nōypōl pōṟṟākkaṭai?.
What profiteth one’s reason, if one does not feel others’ sufferings as his own and guard against them?
iṉṉā eṉat tāṉ uṇarntavai, tuṉṉāmai vēṇṭum, piṟaṉkaṇ ceyal.
Avoid all that causes pain to others.
eṉaittāṉum, eññāṉṟum, yārkkum, maṉattāṉ ām māṇā ceyyāmai talai.
It is the supremest virtue not to commit at any time even slight injury to others.
taṉ uyirkku iṉṉāmai tāṉ aṟivāṉ, eṉkolō, maṉ uyirkku iṉṉā ceyal?.
How is it a man inflicts injury upon others knowing how painful it would be to himself?

75 319. piṟarkku iṉṉā muṟpakal ceyyiṉ, tamakku iṉṉā piṟpakal tāmē varum.
319. As the night follows day, evil that we do recoils on us.

nōy ellām nōy ceytār mēlavām; nōy ceyyār, nōy iṉmai vēṇṭupavar.
All sufferings befall those who inflict harm on others. Those who desire immunity from suffering never commit injury.

1. kollāmai - 33. kollāmai -CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 33—NOT KILLING NOT KILLING NOT KILLING

‘aṟaviṉai yātu?’ eṉiṉ, kollāmai; kōṟal piṟa viṉai ellām tarum.
If you ask what is the sum total of virtues, it is non-killing; killing begets sin.
pakuttu uṇṭu, pal uyir ōmputal nūlōr tokuttavaṟṟuḷ ellām talai.
All the scriptures emphasise the virtue of hospitality and the creed of nonviolence.
oṉṟāka nallatu kollāmai; maṟṟu ataṉ piṉcārap poyyāmai naṉṟu.
The crown of all virtues is non-violence. Next comes non-lying.

76 324. ’nallāṟu eṉappaṭuvatu yātu?’ eṉiṉ, yātu oṉṟum kollāmai cūḻum neṟi.
324. The path of rectitude is the path of non-violence.

nilai añci nīttāruḷ ellām, kolai añcik kollāmai cūḻvāṉ, talai.
Far greater than an ascetic who renounces the fleeting world is the follower of non-violence.
kollāmai mēṟkoṇṭu oḻukuvāṉ vāḻnāḷmēl cellātu, uyir uṇṇum kūṟṟu.
Yama, the Destroyer of life, never invades the realm where non-violence prevails.
taṉ uyir nīppiṉum ceyyaṟka-tāṉ piṟitu iṉ uyir nīkkum viṉai.
Do not commit any act of violence though your life is in peril.
naṉṟu ākum ākkam peritu eṉiṉum, cāṉṟōrkkuk koṉṟu ākum ākkam kaṭai.

1. The truly great scorn the riches acquired through slaughter.

kolai viṉaiyar ākiya mākkaḷ pulai viṉaiyar, puṉmai terivār akattu. 77

1. In the eyes of the discerning, men given to slaughter are but churls.

‘uyir uṭampiṉ nīkkiyār’ eṉpa-‘ceyir uṭampiṉ cellāt tī vāḻkkaiyavar’.
Behold the Lazarus, he is guilty of acts of violence in his former birth.

1. nilaiyāmai - 34. nilaiyāmai -CHAPTER 34 CHAPTER 34 CHAPTER 34—INSTABILITY INSTABILITY INSTABILITY

nillātavaṟṟai nilaiyiṉa eṉṟu uṇarum pullaṟivu āṇmai kaṭai.
It is contemptible folly to mistake the unstable for the stable.
kūttāṭṭu avaikkuḻāttaṟṟē, peruñ celvam; pōkkum, atu viḷintaṟṟu.
The flow of fortune is like the gathering of a crowd at a concert; its ebb is like the melting of the crowd at its close.
aṟkā iyalpiṟṟuc celvam; atu peṟṟāl, aṟkupa āṅkē ceyal.
Fortune is fickle; if you come by it delay not; put it to proper use.
nāḷ eṉa oṉṟupōl kāṭṭi, uyir, īrum vāḷatu-uṇarvārp peṟiṉ. 78
Time seems all laughter; but to the discerning it is a saw sawing away the life of men.
nāc ceṟṟu, vikkuḷ mēlvārāmuṉ, nal viṉai mēṟceṉṟu ceyyappaṭum.
Before hiccough arises and before the tongue is paralysed, do good that leads to salvation.
’nerunal uḷaṉ, oruvaṉ; iṉṟu illai!’ eṉṉum perumai uṭaittu, iv ulaku.
Yesterday he was but to-day he is not; this is the glory of the earth.
oru poḻutum vāḻvatu aṟiyār, karutupakōṭiyum alla, pala.
One is not sure what awaits him the next moment; but he becomes a prey to a thousand and one thoughts.
kuṭampai taṉittu oḻiyap puḷ paṟantaṟṟēuṭampoṭu uyiriṭai naṭpu.

1. The attachment of life to the body is like that of a full-fledged bird flying from its

broken shell.

uṟaṅkuvatu pōlum, cākkāṭu; uṟaṅki viḻippatu pōlum, piṟappu. 79
Death is like sleep, birth is that awakening from sleep.
pukkil amaintiṉṟukollō-uṭampiṉuḷ tuccil irunta uyirkku!.
Why should the soul seek a temporary shelter in the perishable body? Is there not a durable habitation for it?

1. tuṟ 35. tuṟavu -CHAPTER 35 CHAPTER 35— CHAPTER 35—RENUNCIATION RENUNCIATION RENUNCIATION

yātaṉiṉ yātaṉiṉ nīṅkiyāṉ, nōtal ataṉiṉ ataṉiṉ ilaṉ.
A man does not suffer pain from whatever things he has renounced.
vēṇṭiṉ, uṇṭākat tuṟakka; tuṟantapiṉ, īṇṭu iyaṟpāla pala.
There is endless joy in early renunciation.
aṭal vēṇṭum, aintaṉ pulattai; viṭal vēṇṭum, vēṇṭiya ellām oruṅku.
Subdue your senses and give up all your longings.
iyalpu ākum, nōṉpiṟku oṉṟu iṉmai; uṭaimai mayal ākum, maṟṟum peyarttu.
Renunciation is the mark of asceticism. Any clinging leads to one’s delusion. 80
maṟṟum toṭarppāṭu evaṉkol? piṟappu aṟukkal uṟṟārkku uṭampum mikai.

1. Why talk of other attachments; even our body is a hindrance.

‘yāṉ’, ‘eṉatu’, eṉṉum cerukku aṟuppāṉ vāṉōrkku uyarnta ulakam pukum.
He enters the abode of the gods who lays the axe at ‘I’ and ‘mine.’
paṟṟi viṭāa, iṭumpaikaḷ-paṟṟiṉaip paṟṟi, viṭāatavarkku.
Sufferings seize men of desire.
talaippaṭṭār, tīrat tuṟantār; mayaṅki valaippaṭṭār, maṟṟaiyavar.
Salvation is for one of renunciation; others get entangled in endless births and deaths.
paṟṟu aṟṟakaṇṇē piṟappu aṟukkum; maṟṟum nilaiyāmai kāṇappaṭum.

1. Cut off all attachments; you cut off the tangle of life; otherwise you are caught.

paṟṟuka, paṟṟu aṟṟāṉ paṟṟiṉai! ap paṟṟaip 81 paṟṟuka, paṟṟu viṭaṟku!.
Cling fast to Him who is free from all desire. Seek Him for your freedom, from attachment.

1. mey uṇ 36. mey uṇartal -CHAPTER 36 CHAPTER 36 CHAPTER 36—TRUE KNOWLEDGE TRUE KNOWLEDGE TRUE KNOWLEDGE

poruḷ allavaṟṟaip poruḷ eṉṟu uṇarum maruḷāṉ ām, māṇāp piṟappu.

1. Out of ignorance which mistakes things unreal for things real springs the

wretched cycle of births.

iruḷ nīṅki iṉpam payakkum-maruḷ nīṅki mācu aṟu kāṭciyavarkku.
Men of pure vision are led from darkness to light.
aiyattiṉ nīṅkit teḷintārkku vaiyattiṉ vāṉam naṇiyatu uṭaittu.
To men of unclouded wisdom heaven is nearer than earth.
aiuṇarvu eytiyak kaṇṇum payam iṉṟēmey uṇarvu illātavarkku.
What profits one’s perfect senses if one is not endowed with true knowledge.
ep poruḷ et taṉmaittuāyiṉum, ap poruḷ 82 meypporuḷ kāṇpatu aṟivu.
To track all things to their subtlest retreats is true knowledge.
kaṟṟu īṇṭu meypporuḷ kaṇṭār talaippaṭuvar, maṟṟu īṇṭu vārā neṟi.
Those who have learnt the truth never enter back to this world.
ōrttu uḷḷam uḷḷatu uṇariṉ oru talaiyā, pērttu uḷḷavēṇṭā piṟappu.
There is no fear of one’s re-birth if one seeks and finds the truth.
piṟappu eṉṉum pētaimai nīṅka, ciṟappu eṉṉum cemporuḷ kāṇpatu aṟivu.
Seek the truth to remove delusion; that is wisdom.
cārpu uṇarntu, cārpu keṭa oḻukiṉ, maṟṟu aḻittuc cārtarā, cārtarum nōy.

1. Seek the truth on which everything rests; you will be free from all the ills that

assail life.

kāmam, vekuḷi, mayakkam, ivai mūṉṟaṉ nāmam keṭa, keṭum nōy.
Wipe out the very names of lust, anger and delusion; you will be wiping out the pause of re-birth. 83

1. avā aṟ 37. avā aṟuttal -CHAPTER 37 CHAPTER 37 CHAPTER 37—THE DESTRUCTION OF DESIRE THE DESTRUCTION OF DESIRE THE DESTRUCTION OF DESIRE

‘avā’ eṉpa-’ellā uyirkkum, eñ ñāṉṟum, tavāap piṟappu īṉum vittu’.
The learned say desire is the eternal seed of life.
vēṇṭuṅkāl, vēṇṭum piṟavāmai; maṟṟu atu vēṇṭāmai vēṇṭa, varum.

1. Do you long for anything? Long for not being born again; this you can achieve if

you cease your desires.

vēṇṭāmai aṉṉa viḻuc celvam īṇṭu illai; yāṇṭum aḵtu oppatu il.
There is no greater possession than freedom from desire either here or in the world beyond.
tūuymai eṉpatu avā iṉmai; maṟṟu atu vā aymai vēṇṭa, varum.
What is purity of mind but absence of desire? It will follow if one burns for truth.
aṟṟavar eṉpār avā aṟṟār; maṟṟaiyār aṟṟu āka aṟṟatu ilar.
Only those who have renounced are free; others are not. 84
añcuvatu ōrum aṟaṉē; oruvaṉai vañcippatu ōrum avā.
It is desire that seduces men into sin; Asceticism dreads desires.
avāviṉai āṟṟa aṟuppiṉ, tavā viṉai tāṉvēṇṭum āṟṟāṉ varum.
The desired path of virtue is open to one who kills desire.
avā illārkku illākum tuṉpam; aḵtu uṇṭēl, tavāatu mēṉmēl varum.
There is no sorrow for those who are free from desire. Endless sorrows befall men with desire.
iṉpam iṭaiyaṟātu, īṇṭum-avā eṉṉum tuṉpattuḷ tuṉpam keṭiṉ.
There is an eternal flow of life’s happiness when desire, the evil of ail evils, dies out.
ārā iyaṟkai avā nīppiṉ, an nilaiyē pērā iyaṟkai tarum.
Give up your insatiable longings; you will be conferring on yourself an eternal life.

1. ūḻ-CHAPTER 38 CHAPTER 38 CHAPTER 38—FATE

āku ūḻāl tōṉṟum, acaivu iṉmai; kaipporuḷ pōku ūḻāl tōṉṟum, maṭi.

1. Out of fate springs perseverance which leads to one’s fortune. Out of fate

springs one’s indolence which leads to one’s ruin.

pētaip paṭukkum, iḻavu ūḻ; aṟivu akaṟṟum, ākal ūḻ uṟṟakkaṭai.
Fate makes fools of the wise. Fate makes folly pass for wisdom.
nuṇṇiya nūl pala kaṟpiṉum, maṟṟum taṉ uṇmai aṟivē mikum.
What if one is a man of subtle learning; one’s mind is swayed by fate.
iru vēṟu, ulakattu iyaṟkai; tiru vēṟu; teḷḷiyar ātalum vēṟu.

1. Fate has a double sway. It makes the foolish rich and the wise poor.

nallavai ellāam tīya ām; tīyavum nalla ām;-celvam ceyaṟku.
Things favourable become adverse, and the unfavourable favourable.

86 376. pariyiṉum ākāvām, pāl alla; uyttuc coriyiṉum pōkā, tama.
376. One may lose one’s wealth however carefully one may guard it. One may not lose it though he flings it away. It is all ordained by fate.

vakuttāṉ vakutta vakai allāl, kōṭi tokuttārkkum tuyttal aritu.
Unless pre-ordained by the divine Disposer, even if a man did pile up a crore it would not be possible for him to enjoy it.
tuṟappārmaṉ, tuppuravu illār-uṟaṟpāla ūṭṭā kaḻiyum eṉiṉ.
The poor could easily renounce the world if fate were to refrain from visiting them with the curse of their past deeds.
naṉṟu ām kāl nallavāk kāṇpavar, aṉṟu ām kāl allaṟpaṭuvatu evaṉ.
Why worry about pain and pleasure? They are all the workings of fate.
ūḻiṉ peruvali yā uḷa-maṟṟu oṉṟu cūḻiṉum, tāṉ muntuṟum.
What is there so potent as Fate? Even if we devise some way of counteracting it, it takes us by surprise.

87 End of arattuppal End of arattuppal

– 2. poruṭ 2. poruṭpāl 2.1 araciyal - 2.1 araciyal -SECTION I. THE STATE SECTION I. THE STATE SECTION I. THE STATE

1. iṟaimāṭci -CHAPTER 39 CHAPTER 39 CHAPTER 39—ON MAJESTY ON MAJESTY ON MAJESTY

paṭai, kuṭi, kūḻ, amaiccu, naṭpu, araṇ āṟum uṭaiyāṉ aracaruḷ ēṟu.
He is a lion among kings, who possesses with an army, a territory, wealth, ministers, allies and a fortress.
añcāmai, īkai, aṟivu, ūkkam in nāṉkum eñcāmai-vēntaṟku iyalpu.
Fearlessness, liberality, wisdom and energy are the unfailing marks of a King.
tūṅkāmai, kalvi, tuṇivuṭaimai im mūṉṟum nīṅkā-nilaṉ āḷpavaṟku.

1. The ruler of the earth must never be bereft of his sleepless watchfulness,

learning and courage.

aṟaṉ iḻukkātu, allavai nīkki, maṟaṉ iḻukkā māṉam uṭaiyatu-aracu.
He is an honourable King who swerves not from virtue and abstains from vice.
iyaṟṟalum, īṭṭalum, kāttalum, kātta 88 vakuttalum, vallatu-aracu.
He is the King who is capable of acquiring, preserving and wisely distributing wealth.
kāṭcikku eḷiyaṉ, kaṭuñ collaṉ allaṉēl, mīkkūṟum, maṉṉaṉ nilam.
The world will extol the kingdom of one who is easy of access and who does not indulge in harsh words.
iṉ colāl īttu, aḷikka vallāṟkut taṉ colāl tāṉ kaṇṭaṉaittu, iv ulaku.
He who is not harsh of tongue but full of grace and liberality commands the homage of the world.
muṟai ceytu kāppāṟṟum maṉṉavaṉ, ‘makkaṭku iṟai’ eṉṟu vaikkappaṭum.
He is a God among men who shields his subjects.
cevi kaippac coṟ poṟukkum paṇpuṭai vēntaṉ kavikaikkīḻt taṅkum, ulaku.

1. The world is under the sway of the monarch who puts up with bitter counsel.

koṭai, aḷi, ceṅkōl, kuṭi-ōmpal, nāṉkum uṭaiyāṉ ām, vēntarkku oḷi. 89
He is a light among Kings who is endowed with liberality, grace, love for his subjects, and a desire for just rule.

1. kalvi - 40. kalvi -CHAPTER 40 CHAPTER 40 CHAPTER 40—ON LEARNING ON LEARNING ON LEARNING

kaṟka, kacaṭu aṟa, kaṟpavai! kaṟṟapiṉ, niṟka, ataṟkut taka!.
Faultlessly pursue knowledge and abide by it.
’eṇ’ eṉpa, ēṉai ‘eḻuttu’ eṉpa, iv iraṇṭum ‘kaṇ’ eṉpa, vāḻum uyirkku.
Verily the numbers and letters are the eyes of the living one.
kaṇ uṭaiyar eṉpavar kaṟṟōr; mukattu iraṇṭu puṇ uṭaiyar, kallātavar.
The learned alone are said to possess eyes; but they are only sores in the face of the unlettered.
uvappat talaikkūṭi, uḷḷap pirital aṉaittē-pulavar toḻil.
The duty of the learned is to delight man by their company. Hunger ever more for it even while parting.
uṭaiyārmuṉ illārpōl ēkkaṟṟum kaṟṟār; 90 kaṭaiyarē, kallātavar.
Eager like the beggars at the door of the wealthy is the sufferer of knowledge; the illiterate are held in scorn.
toṭṭaṉaittu ūṟum, maṇaṟ kēṇi;-māntarkkuk kaṟṟaṉaittu ūṟum, aṟivu.
The deeper you delve into the earth, the greater will be the flow of water. Likewise knowledge is in proportion to your learning.
yātāṉum nāṭu āmāl; ūr āmāl; eṉ, oruvaṉ cām tuṇaiyum kallātavāṟu?.
No country and no place is alien to the learned. How is it that persons remain in ignorance to the end of their lives?
orumaikkaṇ tāṉ kaṟṟa kalvi oruvaṟku eḻumaiyum ēmāppu uṭaittu.
The knowledge that a person gains in one birth stands him in good stead for seven births.
tām iṉpuṟuvatu ulaku iṉpuṟak kaṇṭu, kāmuṟuvar, kaṟṟu aṟintār.
The learned thirst for knowledge more and more, because what gives them pleasure delights the world.

91 400. kēṭu il viḻuc celvam kalvi; oruvaṟku māṭu alla, maṟṟaiyavai.

1. The precious undecaying wealth of a man is his learning. All other riches are no

wealth at all.

–

1. kallāmai - 41. kallāmai -CHAPTER 41 CHAPTER 41 CHAPTER 41—ON NON-LEARNING LEARNING LEARNING

araṅku iṉṟi vaṭṭu āṭiyaṟṟē-nirampiya nūl iṉṟik kōṭṭi koḷal.
Entering an assembly without sufficient knowledge is like playing at a dice board without its knowledge.
kallātāṉ col kāmuṟutal, mulai iraṇṭum illātāḷ peṇ kāmuṟṟaṟṟu.
The desire of the ignorant to speak is like the desire of a woman without breasts claiming womanhood.
kallātavarum naṉi nallar-kaṟṟārmuṉ collātu irukkappeṟiṉ.
Blessed are the ignorant if they venture not to address the assembly of the learned.
kallātāṉ oṭpam kaḻiya naṉṟu āyiṉum, koḷḷār, aṟivu uṭaiyār.
The learned value not the intelligence of the illiterate. 92
kallā oruvaṉ takaimai, talaippeytu collāṭa, cōrvupaṭum.

1. The pretensions of the illiterate disappear the moment they launch upon a

discussion with the learned.

uḷar eṉṉum māttiraiyar allāl, payavāk kaḷar aṉaiyar-kallātavar.
The ignorant just exist; they are like a piece of barren land.
nuṇ māṇ nuḻai pulam illāṉ eḻil nalam maṇ māṇ puṉai pāvai aṟṟu.
The imposing position of one who lacks penetrating intellect reminds us of the external glitter of clay.
nallārkaṇ paṭṭa vaṟumaiyiṉ iṉṉātēkallārkaṇ paṭṭa tiru.

1. Far sweeter is the poverty of the learned than the riches of the ignorant.

mēṟpiṟantār āyiṉum kallātār, kīḻppiṟantum kaṟṟār aṉaittu ilar pāṭu.
The highborn ignorant sink low in the scale while the learned even of humble birth are exalted.

93 410. vilaṅkoṭu makkaḷ aṉaiyar-ilaṅku nūl kaṟṟāroṭu ēṉaiyavar.
410. The ignorant are but beasts by the side of men of wide learning.

1. kēḷ 42. kēḷvi -CHAPTER 42 CHAPTER 42 CHAPTER 42 —ON HEARING ON HEARING ON HEARING

celvattuḷ celvam ceviccelvam; ac celvam celvattuḷ ellām talai.
The wealth of all wealth is the wealth of hearing. It out-tops all other wealth.
cevikku uṇavu illāta pōḻtu, ciṟitu, vayiṟṟukkum īyappaṭum.

1. Men think a little of the stomach only when the ear is not fed.

ceviyuṇaviṉ kēḷvi uṭaiyār, aviyuṇaviṉ āṉṟāroṭu oppar, nilattu.
Those mortals who feast their ears with learning are one with the immortals with their sacrificial offerings.
kaṟṟilaṉ āyiṉum kēṭka; aḵtu oruvaṟku oṟkattiṉ ūṟṟu ām tuṇai.
Though devoid of learning let one fill one’s ear with knowledge. It is his prop in his hour of gloom.

94 415. iḻukkal uṭai uḻi ūṟṟukkōl aṟṟēoḻukkam uṭaiyār vāyc col.
415. The counsel of the upright is like a staff over a slippery ground.

eṉaittāṉum nallavai kēṭka! aṉaittāṉum āṉṟa perumai tarum.
Listen to wholesome counsel however meagre; for out of it springs great good.
piḻaittu uṇarntum pētaimai collār-iḻaittu uṇarntu īṇṭiya kēḷviyavar.

1. Men of searching understanding do not speak foolishly even in a thoughtless

mood.

kēṭpiṉum kēḷāt takaiyavē-kēḷviyāl tōṭkap paṭāta cevi.
The ear that is not filled with understanding is really deaf.
nuṇaṅkiya kēḷviyar allār vaṇaṅkiya vāyiṉar ātal aritu.

1. Men that lack subtle understanding lack modesty in speech.

ceviyiṉ cuvai uṇarā, vāy uṇarviṉ, mākkaḷ aviyiṉum vāḻiṉum eṉ. 95
What avails it whether men live or die, if they merely satisfy the palate and not feed the ear with wisdom.

1. aṟivuṭaimai -CHAPTER 43 CHAPTER 43 CHAPTER 43—ON KNOWLEDGE ON KNOWLEDGE ON KNOWLEDGE

aṟivu, aṟṟam kākkum karuvi; ceṟuvārkkum uḷ aḻikkal ākā araṇ.

1. The weapon of wisdom saves one from evil. It is a citadel which cannot be

destroyed by the foe.

ceṉṟa iṭattāl celaviṭā, tītu orīi, naṉṟiṉ pāl uyppatu-aṟivu.
Wisdom bridles the wandering mind, keeps it away from evil and bids it tread the right path.
ep poruḷ yār yār vāyk kēṭpiṉum, ap poruḷ meyp poruḷ kāṇpatu-aṟivu.

1. Wisdom seeks the truth of all things which are heard or uttered.

eṇ poruḷavākac celac colli, tāṉ piṟarvāy nuṇ poruḷ kāṇpatu-aṟivu.
Wisdom unravels things subtle and seeks them in others.
ulakam taḻīiyatu oṭpam; malartalum 96 kūmpalum illatu-aṟivu.
To befriend the world is wisdom; and wisdom is not inconstant like the flower that blossoms and fades.
evvatu uṟaivatu ulakam, ulakattoṭu avvatu uṟaivatu-aṟivu.
To be one with the world is wisdom.
aṟivu uṭaiyār āvatu aṟivār; aṟivu ilār aḵtu aṟikallātavar.
Wisdom knows the future but not ignorance.
añcuvatu añcāmai pētaimai; añcuvatu añcal, aṟivār toḻil.
It is folly not to fear what must be feared. It is wisdom to fear what must be feared.
etiratāk kākkum aṟiviṉārkku illaiatira varuvatōr nōy.
Men of foresight who guard themselves against coming events know no distress.
aṟivu uṭaiyār ellām uṭaiyār; aṟivu ilār eṉ uṭaiyarēṉum ilar. 97

1. The wise possess everything; but the poor are the unwise rich.

–

1. kuṟṟ 44. kuṟṟam kaṭital CHAPTER 44— CHAPTER 44—ON RESTRAINING FAULTS ON RESTRAINING FAULTS ON RESTRAINING FAULTS

cerukkum, ciṉamum, ciṟumaiyum, illār perukkam perumita nīrttu.
Exalted is the wealth that is free from pride, wrath and lust.
ivaṟalum, māṇpu iṟanta māṉamum, māṇā uvakaiyum,- ētam, iṟaikku.
Niggardliness, empty honour, blind favouritism, are all the faults of a King.
tiṉait tuṇaiyām kuṟṟam variṉum, paṉait tuṇaiyāk koḷvar, paḻi nāṇuvār.
Even the slightest fault looms large in the eyes of those who dread dishonour.
kuṟṟamē kākka, poruḷāka-kuṟṟamē, aṟṟam tarūum pakai.
Guard against your error as you would your wealth. For error spells your ruin.
varum muṉṉark kāvātāṉ vāḻkkai, eri muṉṉar vaittūṟu pōla, keṭum.
Like a piece of straw in a consuming flame, will be destroyed the life of one who does not guard against faults. 98
taṉ kuṟṟam nīkki, piṟar kuṟṟam kāṇkiṟpiṉ, eṉ kuṟṟam ākum iṟaikku.
What fault will befall a King who is free from guilt and detects guilt in others?
ceyaṟpāla ceyyātu ivaṟiyāṉ celvam uyaṟpālatu aṉṟik keṭum.
The hoarded wealth of the miser who fails in his offices perishes.
paṟṟu uḷḷam eṉṉum ivaṟaṉmai, eṟṟuḷḷum eṇṇappaṭuvatu oṉṟu aṉṟu.

1. A clutching greedy heart that knows no charity commits the greatest folly.

viyavaṟka, eññāṉṟum taṉṉai! nayavaṟka, naṉṟi payavā viṉai!.
Let not conceit enter your heart at any time of your life; do not run after trifles.
kātala kātal aṟiyāmai uykkiṟpiṉ, ētila, ētilār nūl.
Of what avail are the designs of the foe, if one does not betray one’s secrets?

–

1. periyārait tuṇ 45. periyārait tuṇaikkōṭal -CHAPTER 45 CHAPTER 45 CHAPTER 45—ON ASSOCIATION WITH ON ASSOCIATION WITH ON ASSOCIATION WITHELDERS

99 441. aṟaṉ aṟintu mūtta aṟivu uṭaiyār kēṇmai tiṟaṉ aṟintu, tērntu, koḷal.
441. The friendship of virtuous men of mature wisdom is to be appreciated and secured.

uṟṟa nōy nīkki, uṟāamai muṉ kākkum peṟṟiyārp pēṇik koḷal.
Seek the friendship of those who can remove existing distress and guard against future.
ariyavaṟṟuḷ ellām aritē-periyāraip pēṇit tamarāk koḷal.
To seek and win the alliance of the great is the rarest of all blessings.
tammiṉ periyār tamarā oḻukutal, vaṉmaiyuḷ ellām talai.
To follow in the footsteps of those that are greater than oneself is the crown of one’s strength.
cūḻvār kaṇ āka oḻukalāṉ, maṉṉavaṉ cūḻvāraic cūḻntu koḷal.

1. Verily the ministers are the eyes of the monarch; let the monarch have tried

ones.

100 446. takkār iṉattaṉāy, tāṉ oḻuka vallāṉaic ceṟṟār ceyakkiṭantatu il.
446. No adversary can ruin the King who relies on his efficient counselors.

iṭikkum tuṇaiyārai āḷvārai, yārē, keṭukkum takaimaiyavar.
None can harm the ruler who seeks the wholesome counsel of his ministers though bitter.
iṭippārai illāta ēmarā maṉṉaṉ keṭuppār ilāṉum, keṭum.
The King who is not guarded by men of firm counsel will perish even though he has no enemies.
mutal ilārkku ūtiyam illai;-matalai ām cārpu ilārkku illai, nilai.

1. Is there profit without capital? Is there security for the monarch devoid of wise

counselors?

pallār pakai koḷaliṉ pattu aṭutta tīmaittēnallār toṭar kaiviṭal.
Greatly injurious is the forsaking of the friendship of the good; it is like encountering singlehanded many foes.

101

1. ciṟṟiṉam cērāmai am cērāmai am cērāmai -CHAPTER 46 CHAPTER 46 CHAPTER 46—ON AVOIDING LOW COMPANY ON AVOIDING LOW COMPANY ON AVOIDING LOW COMPANY

ciṟṟiṉam añcum, perumai; ciṟumaitāṉ cuṟṟamāc cūḻntuviṭum.
The great dread the company of the ignoble, for the ignoble delight in the company of the mean.
nilattu iyalpāṉ nīr tirintu, aṟṟu ākum;- māntarkku ‘iṉattu’ iyalpatu ākum, aṟivu.
Water smacks of the soil; The wisdom of man takes the colour of the company he keeps.
maṉattāṉ ām, māntarkku uṇarcci; iṉattāṉ ām, ‘iṉṉāṉ’ eṉappaṭum col.
It is the mind that helps a man to gain knowledge; but it is one’s association that makes people say what sort of man he is.
maṉattu uḷatu pōlak kāṭṭi, oruvaṟku iṉattu uḷatu ākum-aṟivu.
One’s wisdom partakes of the nature of one’s mind and one is known by the company he keeps.
maṉam tūymai, ceyviṉai tūymai, iraṇṭum iṉam tūymai tūvā varum. 102
Purity of mind and purity of action are of a piece with the purity of one’s associates.
maṉam tūyārkku eccam naṉṟu ākum; iṉam tūyārkku illai, naṉṟu ākā viṉai.
A good progeny awaits the pure. There is no effort of one endowed with good company but bears fruit.
maṉa nalam maṉ uyirkku ākkam; iṉa nalam ellāp pukaḻum tarum.
Company of the pure brings one all glory.
maṉa nalam naṉku uṭaiyar āyiṉum, cāṉṟōrkku iṉa nalam ēmāppu uṭaittu.
The wise may be pure in mind. Good company is the source of one’s strength.
maṉa nalattiṉ ākum, maṟumai; maṟṟu aḵtum iṉa nalattiṉ ēmāppu uṭaittu.
Heaven awaits the pure of heart; verily it is the reward of good company.
nal iṉattiṉ ūṅkum tuṇai illai; tī iṉattiṉ allaṟpaṭuppatūum il.
There is no greater evil than the company of the wicked.

103

1. terintu ceyal vakai - 47. terintu ceyal vakai -CH. 47—ON ACTION AFTER DUE ON ACTION AFTER DUE ON ACTION AFTER DUE DELIBERATION DELIBERATION DELIBERATION

aḻivatūum āvatūum āki, vaḻipayakkum ūtiyamum cūḻntu, ceyal!.

1. After much deliberation over profit and loss and the final gains, launch on a task.

terinta iṉattoṭu tērntu eṇṇic ceyvārkku arum poruḷ yātu oṉṟum il.
Nothing is impossible for those who act after listening to the counsel of persons of known probity.
ākkam karuti, mutal iḻakkum ceyviṉai ūkkār, aṟivu uṭaiyār.
The wise do not approve of the action of those who lose their capital anticipating some distant gain.
teḷivu ilataṉait toṭaṅkār-iḷivu eṉṉum ētappāṭu añcupavar.
Men who dread ignominy never embark on a work without deliberation.
vakai aṟac cūḻātu eḻutal, pakaivaraip pāttip paṭuppatu ōr āṟu.
A thoughtless expedition only fosters the might of one’s foes.

104 466. ceytakka alla ceyak keṭum; ceytakka ceyyāmaiyāṉum keṭum.

1. To do a thing which ought not to be done is to court trouble; to fail to do a thing

which ought to be done is to land oneself in ruin.

eṇṇit tuṇika, karumam; tuṇintapiṉ, eṇṇuvam eṉpatu iḻukku.

1. Begin your task after much deliberation. To think after launching action is to

court a grievous blunder.

āṟṟiṉ varuntā varuttam, palar niṉṟu pōṟṟiṉum, pottuppaṭum.

1. An ill-organised scheme though supported by many goes to pieces.

naṉṟu āṟṟaluḷḷum tavaṟu uṇṭu-avaravar paṇpu aṟintu āṟṟākkaṭai.

1. Even a good scheme falls through if we do not divine aright the disposition of

men.

eḷḷāta eṇṇic ceyalvēṇṭum-tammoṭu koḷḷāta koḷḷātu ulaku.
Let not the king do; any unwise act lest the world should hold him in scorn.

105

1. vali aṟ 48. vali aṟital -CH. 48—ON KNOWING THE ENEMY’S STRENGTH ON KNOWING THE ENEMY’S STRENGTH ON KNOWING THE ENEMY’S STRENGTH

viṉai valiyum, taṉ valiyum, māṟṟāṉ valiyum, tuṇai valiyum, tūkkic ceyal.
A king must act after measuring the strength of his plan, his own resources, the strength of the enemy and that of the ally.
olvatu aṟivatu aṟintu, ataṉkaṇ taṅkic celvārkkuc cellātatu il.
Nothing is impossible for them who know the nature of their task and throw themselves heart and soul into it.
uṭait tam vali aṟiyār, ūkkattiṉ ūkki, iṭaikkaṇ murintār palar.

1. Many kings have failed in the middle of their enterprise, for they have launched

on it in their blind ignorant zeal.

amaintu āṅku oḻukāṉ, aḷavu aṟiyāṉ, taṉṉai viyantāṉ, viraintu keṭum.

1. He who is ignorant of the might of his foe and who thinks too much of himself

will come to grief.

pīli pey cākāṭum accu iṟum-ap paṇṭam cāla mikuttup peyiṉ.
The axle of a cart breaks even under the overload of a peacock’s feathers. 106
nuṉik kompar ēṟiṉār aḵtu iṟantu ūkkiṉ uyirkku iṟuti ākiviṭum.
Over-vaulting ambition perishes.
āṟṟiṉ aḷavu aṟintu īka; atu poruḷ pōṟṟi vaḻaṅkum neṟi.

1. Let your charity be according to the measure of your wealth. That is the way to

preserve it.

āku āṟu aḷavu iṭṭitu āyiṉum, kēṭu illaipōku āṟu akalākkaṭai.
No harm comes of one’s small earnings. Let not one’s expense out-run one’s income.
aḷavu aṟintu vāḻātāṉ vāḻkkai uḷapōla illāki, tōṉṟāk keṭum.
The seeming prosperity of the extravagant perishes.
uḷa varai tūkkāta oppuravu āṇmai, vaḷa varai vallaik keṭum.

1. The fortune of one, lavish of charity beyond measure, goes to rack and rain.

107

1. kālam aṟ 49. kālam aṟital -CHAPTER 49 CHAPTER 49 CHAPTER 49—ON KNOWING THE TIME ON KNOWING THE TIME ON KNOWING THE TIME

pakal vellum, kūkaiyaik kākkai;- ikal vellum vēntarkku vēṇṭum, poḻutu.

1. During the day the crow conquers the owl. So the monarch who wishes to

defeat the enemy must choose the proper time.

paruvattoṭu oṭṭa oḻukal-tiruviṉait tīrāmai ārkkum kayiṟu.
Action at the appropriate hour is the rope that holds for ever the Goddess of Fortune to the King.
aru viṉai eṉpa uḷavō-karuviyāṉ kālam aṟintu ceyiṉ.
Is there anything impossible if one acts at the right time and with the proper equipment?
ñālam karutiṉum, kaikūṭum-kālam karuti, iṭattāṉ ceyiṉ.
One can succeed in the attempt to conquer the world if the right time and the right place are chosen.
kālam karuti iruppar-kalaṅkātu ñālam karutupavar. 108
He who without any fear aims at the conquest of the world will await the season for it.
ūkkam uṭaiyāṉ oṭukkam poru takar tākkaṟkup pērum takaittu.
The self-restraint of the mighty is like the drawing back of the fighting ram just before its attack.
poḷḷeṉa āṅkē puṟam vērār; kālam pārttu, uḷ vērppar, oḷḷiyavar.
The wise will not fly into a passion when assailed; they allow their anger to smoulder within till the right time comes.
ceṟunaraik kāṇiṉ cumakka; iṟuvarai kāṇiṉ kiḻakkām talai.
Bow before the enemy till the time of his destruction. When the hour comes, strike him down.
eytaṟku ariyatu iyaintakkāl, an nilaiyē ceytaṟku ariya ceyal.
Do not let slip a golden opportunity; when the hour dawns, attempt the impossible.
kokku okka, kūmpum paruvattu; maṟṟu ataṉ 109 kuttu okka, cīrtta iṭattu.
When the time is not ripe, be still as a heron. But at the ripe hour, attack the enemy without missing your aim.

1. iṭaṉaṟital -CHAPTER 50 CHAPTER 50 CHAPTER 50—ON KNOWING THE PLACE ON KNOWING THE PLACE ON KNOWING THE PLACE

toṭaṅkaṟka ev viṉaiyum; eḷḷaṟka-muṟṟum iṭam kaṇṭapiṉ allatu!.
Scorn not the foe; embark not on any action till you secure a coign of vantage to overwhelm him.
muraṇ cērnta moympiṉavarkkum araṇ cērntu ām ākkam palavum tarum.
Even to men of great valour and power, manifold are the advantages yielded by a fortress.
āṟṟārum āṟṟi aṭupa-iṭaṉ aṟintu pōṟṟārkaṇ pōṟṟic ceyiṉ.

1. Even the weak are able to win if they choose the right place to assail the foe.

eṇṇiyār eṇṇam iḻappar-iṭaṉ aṟintu tuṉṉiyār tuṉṉic ceyiṉ.
If a king stations himself at a right place the conquering foe loses all hope.

110 495. neṭum puṉaluḷ vellum mutalai; aṭum, puṉaliṉ nīṅkiṉ, ataṉaip piṟa.
495. The crocodile in waters deep overpowers all; once it leaves the waters, he falls an easy prey to its foes.

kaṭal ōṭā, kāl val neṭun tēr; kaṭal ōṭum nāvāyum ōṭā, nilattu.

1. The strong wheeled lofty chariot cannot cross the seas, nor can ocean sailing

ships move on land.

añcāmai allāl, tuṇai vēṇṭā-eñcāmai eṇṇi iṭattāṉ ceyiṉ.
If one selects a suitable place by one’s discretion, no other help is needed.
ciṟu paṭaiyāṉ cel iṭam cēriṉ, uṟu paṭaiyāṉ ūkkam aḻintu viṭum.
Ruined will be the strength of one who takes a large army to a place where the enemy of small forces is entrenched.
ciṟai nalaṉum cīrum ilar eṉiṉum, māntar uṟai nilattoṭu oṭṭal aritu.
A people may not have either strength or strongholds; still it is difficult to fight with them on their own soil.

111 500. kāl āḻ kaḷaril nari aṭum, kaṇ añcā vēl āḷ mukatta kaḷiṟu.
500. A mad elephant that kills the bold spearman is killed even by a jackal when it gets stuck up in the mire.

1. terintu teḷ 51. terintu teḷital -CH. 51—ENGAGING SERVANTS AFTER TEST ENGAGING SERVANTS AFTER TEST ENGAGING SERVANTS AFTER TEST

aṟam, poruḷ, iṉpam, uyir accam, nāṉkiṉ tiṟam terintu tēṟappaṭum.

1. One should be chosen after patting one to a fourfold test of righteousness,

wealth, inclination and fear of life and death.

kuṭip piṟantu, kuṟṟattiṉ nīṅki, vaṭup pariyum nāṇ uṭaiyāṉkaṭṭē teḷivu.
One of good family, free of faults, and possessed of a wholesome fear of sin, should be chosen.
ariya kaṟṟu, ācu aṟṟārkaṇṇum, teriyuṅkāl iṉmai aritē, veḷiṟu.
One may be an unblemished man and of vast learning; but it is rare to find one free from ignorance.
kuṇam nāṭi, kuṟṟamum nāṭi, avaṟṟuḷ mikai nāṭi, mikka koḷal!. 112

1. Examine the good and bad in a person and judge his character according to

what predominates in his composition.

perumaikkum, ēṉaic ciṟumaikkum, tattam karumamē kaṭṭaḷaik kal.

1. One’s own deed is the touchstone of one’s greatness and littleness.

aṟṟārait tēṟutal ōmpuka; maṟṟu avar paṟṟu ilar; nāṇār paḻi.

1. Choose not persons who have no kith and kin, and who possesses no social

instincts, they will be callous of heart and dread no crime.

kātaṉmai kantā, aṟivu aṟiyārt tēṟutal pētaimai ellām tarum.

1. It is the height of folly to choose the ignorant blinded by affection.

tērāṉ, piṟaṉait teḷintāṉ vaḻimuṟai tīrā iṭumpai tarum.

1. To choose a stranger without knowing his traits results in one’s grief.

tēṟaṟka yāraiyum, tērātu; tērnta piṉ, tēṟuka, tēṟum poruḷ.

1. Let men be chosen with deliberate care; when once the choice is made, let no

suspicions crump into your soul. 113

tērāṉ teḷivum, teḷintāṉkaṇ aiyuṟavum, tīrā iṭumpai tarum.

1. To choose men with no forethought and to suspect them will land you in endless

woes.

1. terintu viṉ 52. terintu viṉaiyāṭal -CH. 52—ON APPOINTMENT ACCORDING TO MERIT ON APPOINTMENT ACCORDING TO MERIT ON APPOINTMENT ACCORDING TO MERIT

naṉmaiyum tīmaiyum nāṭi, nalam purinta taṉmaiyāṉ āḷappaṭum.
After examining the good and the bad, cling to the good.
vāri perukki, vaḷam paṭuttu, uṟṟavai ārāyvāṉ ceyka viṉai!.
He who taps all productive sources and guards against losses is the true servant.
aṉpu, aṟivu, tēṟṟam, avā iṉmai, in nāṉkum naṉku uṭaiyāṉkaṭṭē teḷivu.

1. Choose men, who are endowed with love, wisdom, clever vision and freedom

from covetousness.

eṉai vakaiyāṉ tēṟiyakkaṇṇum, viṉai vakaiyāṉ vēṟākum māntar palar. 114

1. Position corrupts even the men of our own deliberate choice.

aṟintu, āṟṟi, ceykiṟpāṟku allāl, viṉaitāṉ ciṟantāṉ eṉṟu ēvaṟpāṟṟu aṉṟu.

1. Let worth prevail. Let not blind affection dictate the choice of men.

ceyvāṉai nāṭi, viṉai nāṭi, kālattōṭu eyta uṇarntu, ceyal!.
The thing to be done, the proper person for it and the appropriate time for doing it, must all be duly weighed.
‘itaṉai, itaṉāl, ivaṉ muṭikkum’ eṉṟu āyntu, ataṉai avaṉkaṇ viṭal!.
Let the king be first convinced of the competency of a person; then he shall allow him to move freely in the sphere of his appointed task.
viṉaikku urimai nāṭiya piṉṟai, avaṉai ataṟku uriyaṉ ākac ceyal.

1. Choose men of approved merit and then make them worthy of the station.

viṉaikkaṇ viṉaiyuṭaiyāṉ kēṇmai vēṟāka niṉaippāṉai nīṅkum, tiru.
Prosperity deserts one who suspects the motives of a servant ever loyal to his work. 115
nāḷtōṟum nāṭuka, maṉṉaṉ-viṉaiceyvāṉ kōṭāmaik kōṭātu ulaku.
Let them not swerve from the right path; for on them rests the just conduct of the world.

1. cuṟṟ 53. cuṟṟam taḻāl -CHAPTER 53 CHAPTER 53 CHAPTER 53—ON CHERISHING ONE’S KINDRED ON CHERISHING ONE’S KINDRED ON CHERISHING ONE’S KINDRED

paṟṟu aṟṟakaṇṇum paḻamai pārāṭṭutal cuṟṟattārkaṇṇē uḷa.

1. It is one’s own kith and kin that cherish their old attachments to men out of suit

with fortune.

viruppu aṟāc cuṟṟam iyaiyiṉ, aṟuppu aṟā ākkam palavum tarum.
One’s unceasing kinship is the source of all one’s fortune.
aḷavaḷāvu illātāṉ vāḻkkai-kuḷavaḷāk kōṭu iṉṟi nīr niṟaintaṟṟu.
The life of one with no kin will be like overflowing waters of a tank with no bund.
cuṟṟattāl cuṟṟappaṭa oḻukal, celvamtāṉ peṟṟattāl peṟṟa payaṉ.
The value of one’s wealth consists in a life surrounded by one’s kinsmen. 116
koṭuttalum iṉ colum āṟṟiṉ, aṭukkiya cuṟṟattāl cuṟṟappaṭum.

1. One delights in the company of one generous of heart and suave of speech.

peruṅ koṭaiyāṉ, pēṇāṉ vekuḷi, avaṉiṉ maruṅku uṭaiyār mā nilattu il.
Nothing excels on earth the love of one large of heart and free of wrath, but shares it with the rest.
kākkai karavā karaintu uṇṇum; ākkamum aṉṉa nīrārkkē uḷa.
Fortune smiles on one of like disposition.
potu nōkkāṉ, vēntaṉ varicaiyā nōkkiṉ, atu nōkki vāḻvār palar.
The king must not be indifferent to one’s deserts but reward people according to their merit.
tamar āki, taṉ-tuṟantār cuṟṟam amarāmaik kāraṇam iṉṟi varum.
Reject none on the score of disagreement. Men who have become estranged will flock to you.

117 530. uḻaip pirintu kāraṇattiṉ vantāṉai, vēntaṉ iḻaittu iruntu, eṇṇik koḷal.
530. Let the king embrace his estranged kith and kin by redressing their grievances.

1. poccāvāmai - 54. poccāvāmai -CHAPTER 54 CHAPTER 54 CHAPTER 54—AGAINST FO AGAINST FO AGAINST FORGETFULNESS RGETFULNESS RGETFULNESS

iṟanta vekuḷiyiṉ tītē-ciṟanta uvakai makiḻcciyiṉ cōrvu.

1. Forgetfulness which cometh of mad joy is more dangerous than wild wrath.

poccāppuk kollum pukaḻai-aṟiviṉai niccam nirappuk koṉṟāṅku.
Poverty freezes knowledge. Forgetfulness blights one’s reputation.
poccāppārkku illai pukaḻmai; atu ulakattu ep pāl nūlōrkkum tuṇivu.
Fame is not for the thoughtless, so say the scriptures of the world.
accam uṭaiyārkku araṇ illai; āṅku illai, poccāppu uṭaiyārkku naṉku.
Of what avail is a citadel to a crown, what good availeth the thoughtless.
muṉṉuṟak kāvātu iḻukkiyāṉ, taṉ piḻai, 118 piṉ ūṟu, iraṅkiviṭum.
Who is not on his guard against impending evil, rues his folly?
iḻukkāmai yārmāṭṭum, eṉṟum, vaḻukkāmai vāyiṉ, aḵtu oppatu il.
There is no greater good than to be ever on the vigil.
ariya eṉṟu ākāta illai-poccāvāk karuviyāṉ pōṟṟic ceyiṉ.
Nothing is impossible for the thoughtful.
pukaḻntavai pōṟṟic ceyal vēṇṭum; ceyyātu ikaḻntārkku eḻumaiyum il.
No good awaits him in birth to come who fails of his noble deeds.
ikaḻcciyiṉ keṭṭārai uḷḷuka-tām tam makiḻcciyiṉ maintuṟum pōḻtu!.
When drunk with delight, remember those who have perished through wilful neglect.
uḷḷiyatu eytal eḷitumaṉ-maṟṟum tāṉ uḷḷiyatu uḷḷappeṟiṉ.
No task is difficult to the thoughtful and diligent.

119

1. ceṅ 55. ceṅkōṉmai -CHAPTER 55 CHAPTER 55 CHAPTER 55—ON RIGHTEOUS SCEPTRE ON RIGHTEOUS SCEPTRE ON RIGHTEOUS SCEPTRE

ōrntu, kaṇṇōṭātu, iṟai purintu, yārmāṭṭum tērntu, ceyvaḵtē muṟai.

1. Strict enquiry and impartial justice mark the rule of a just monarch.

vāṉ nōkki vāḻum ulaku ellām;-maṉṉavaṉ kōl nōkki vāḻum kuṭi.
The world looks to rain for its existence. The subjects look to the sceptre for their existence.
antaṇar nūṟkum, aṟattiṟkum, ātiyāy niṉṟatu-maṉṉavaṉ kōl.
The king’s sceptre is the standing proof of Brahminical books and their teachings.
kuṭi taḻīik kōl ōccum mā nila maṉṉaṉ aṭi taḻīi niṟkum, ulaku.
The world falls at the feet of a great King who wields the sceptre for his subjects’ welfare.
iyalpuḷik kōl ōccum maṉṉavaṉ nāṭṭapeyalum viḷaiyuḷum tokku. 120
Both seasonal rains and waving corn are seen in the land of a righteous monarch.
vēl aṉṟu, veṉṟi taruvatu; maṉṉavaṉ kōl; atūum, kōṭātu eṉiṉ.

1. Victory is won not by the spear but by the unswerving sceptre of a monarch.

iṟai kākkum, vaiyakam ellām; avaṉai muṟai kākkum, muṭṭāc ceyiṉ.
The king protects the whole world and justice protects him if unfailingly admonished.
eṇ patattāṉ ōrā, muṟai ceyyā, maṉṉavaṉ taṇ patattāṉ tāṉē keṭum.
The king who does not administer impartial justice goes to ruin.
kuṭi puṟaṅkāttu, ōmpi, kuṟṟam kaṭital vaṭu aṉṟu; vēntaṉ toḻil.
To punish crime is the duty, not the fault of the king who attends to the welfare of his subjects.
kolaiyil, koṭiyārai, vēntu oṟuttal paiṅkūḻ kaḷai kaṭṭataṉoṭu nēr.
Punishing murderers with death is like plucking out weeds among the crops. 121

1. koṭ 56. koṭuṅkōṉmai -CHAPTER 56 CHAPTER 56 CHAPTER 56—ON UNRIGHTEOUS RULE ON UNRIGHTEOUS RULE ON UNRIGHTEOUS RULE

kolai mēṟkoṇṭāriṉ koṭitē-alai mēṟkoṇṭu allavai ceytu oḻukum vēntu.
The unrighteous king who oppresses his subjects is more cruel than the one who leads the life of a murderer.
vēloṭu niṉṟāṉ, ‘iṭu’ eṉṟatu pōlumkōloṭu niṉṟāṉ iravu.
The wielder of the sceptre asking for gifts, is like the spearman asking the wayfarer ‘give.’
nāḷtoṟum nāṭi, muṟaiceyyā maṉṉavaṉ nāḷtoṟum nāṭu keṭum.

1. That country will perish any day whose monarch does not administer justice day

by day.

kūḻum kuṭiyum oruṅku iḻakkum-kōl kōṭi, cūḻātu, ceyyum aracu.
That king who allows his sceptre to bend indiscriminately will lose his wealth together with his subjects.
allaṟpaṭṭu, āṟṟātu, aḻuta kaṇṇīr aṉṟē- 122 celvattait tēykkum paṭai.

1. Are not the tears, shed as a result of oppression, the weapons which destroy

the prosperity of the monarch?

maṉṉarkku maṉṉutal ceṅkōṉmai; aḵtu iṉṟēl, maṉṉāvām, maṉṉarkku oḷi.
Good Government makes one’s rule enduring. Where it is not found, his lustre will not last long?
tuḷi iṉmai ñālattiṟku eṟṟu? aṟṟē, vēntaṉ aḷi iṉmai vāḻum uyirkku.
The people who live under a graceless king suffer like the earth unvisited by drops of rain.
iṉmaiyiṉ iṉṉātu, uṭaimai-muṟai ceyyā maṉṉavaṉ kōṟkīḻp paṭiṉ.
Where people possess a king, who does not enforce justice, wealth does not confer more happiness than poverty.
muṟai kōṭi maṉṉavaṉ ceyyiṉ, uṟai kōṭi ollātu, vāṉam peyal.
Were the king to rule unjustly, the Heavens would withhold rains?
ā payaṉ kuṉṟum; aṟutoḻilōr nūl maṟappar;- 123 kāvalaṉ kāvāṉ eṉiṉ.

1. If the protecting monarch fails in his duties, the yield of cows will diminish and

Brahmans with their six duties will forget their Vedas.

1. veruvanta ceyyāmai - 57. veruvanta ceyyāmai -CHAPTER 57 CHAPTER 57 CHAPTER 57—ON TYRANNY ON TYRANNY ON TYRANNY

takkāṅku nāṭi, talaiccellā vaṇṇattāl ottāṅku oṟuppatu vēntu.
A righteous king investigates and fittingly punishes the wrongdoer so that he may not repeat it.
kaṭitu ōcci, mella eṟika-neṭitu ākkam nīṅkāmai vēṇṭupavar.
If you wish enduring prosperity behave as if you punish excessively, but do it mildly.
veruvanta ceytu oḻukum veṅkōlaṉ āyiṉ, oruvantam ollaik keṭum.
The tyrant who terrifies his subjects will soon perish.
‘iṟai kaṭiyaṉ’ eṉṟu uraikkum iṉṉāc col vēntaṉ uṟai kaṭuki ollaik keṭum.
That king whom people speak of as a tyrant will rapidly perish.

124 565. aruñ cevvi, iṉṉā mukattāṉ peruñ celvam pēey kaṇṭaṉṉatu uṭaittu.
565. The great wealth of a king who is inaccessible and assumes a fearful look, is no better than in the possession of a demon.

kaṭuñ collaṉ, kaṇ ilaṉ āyiṉ, neṭuñ celvam nīṭu iṉṟi, āṅkē keṭum.
The abundant wealth of a king who utters harsh words and puts on unkind looks will not last long.
kaṭu moḻiyum, kaiyikanta taṇṭamum, vēntaṉ aṭu muraṇ tēykkum aram.

1. Severity in speech and excess in punishment are like the file which removes his

capacity to destroy (his enemies).

iṉattu āṟṟi, eṇṇāta vēntaṉ ciṉattu āṟṟic cīṟiṉ, ciṟukum tiru.
The prosperity of a king who does not consult his advisers but makes them the victims of his fury will shrink.
ceru vanta pōḻtil, ciṟai ceyyā vēntaṉ, veruvantu, veytu keṭum.
If a king who has no fortress meets a foe, he will be ruined by fear.

125 570. kallārp piṇikkum, kaṭuṅkōl; atu allatu illai, nilakkup poṟai.
570. No burden is harder for the earth to bear than the cruel sceptre wielded by the unwise.

1. kaṇṇ 58. kaṇṇōṭṭam -CHAPTER 58 CHAPTER 58 CHAPTER 58—ON KINDLINESS ON KINDLINESS ON KINDLINESS

kaṇṇōṭṭam eṉṉum kaḻiperuṅ kārikai uṇmaiyāṉ, uṇṭu iv ulaku.
The world exists because of the existence of the most beautiful virtue called kindliness.
kaṇṇōṭṭattu uḷḷatu ulakiyal; aḵtu ilār uṇmai nilakkup poṟai.
The world lives through kindliness; those who do not have it are a burden to the earth.
paṇ eṉ ām, pāṭaṟku iyaipu iṉṟēl?-kaṇ eṉ ām, kaṇṇōṭṭam illāta kaṇ?.
What is the use of a song that could not be enjoyed? Likewise, what is the use of the eyes that have no kindliness?
uḷapōl mukattu evaṉ ceyyum-aḷaviṉāl kaṇṇōṭṭam illāta kaṇ.
What is the use of one’s eyes if they do not beam with immeasurable love? 126
kaṇṇiṟku aṇikalam kaṇṇōṭṭam; aḵtu iṉṟēl, puṇ eṉṟu uṇarappaṭum.
Kindliness is the fitting ornament for the eyes. They are a sore, where it is absent.
maṇṇoṭu iyainta marattu aṉaiyar-kaṇṇoṭu iyaintu, kaṇṇōṭātavar.
Those whose eyes do not reflect love resemble trees that stand on the earth.
kaṇṇōṭṭam illavar kaṇ ilar; kaṇ uṭaiyār kaṇṇōṭṭam iṉmaiyum il.
Verily they are blind who have no kindly look.
karumam citaiyāmal kaṇṇōṭa vallārkku urimai uṭaittu, iv ulaku.
The world belongs to a king who can do his duty and yet be courteous.
oṟuttāṟṟum paṇpiṉārkaṇṇum, kaṇṇōṭip poṟuttāṟṟum paṇpē talai.
It behoves a king to put up with the doer of harm and even be kind to him.
peyak kaṇṭum, nañcu uṇṭu amaivar-nayattakka 127 nākarikam vēṇṭupavar.
Those who wish to acquire loveable urbanity will knowingly swallow even the poison served.

1. oṟṟ 59. oṟṟu āṭal -CHAPTER 59 CHAPTER 59 CHAPTER 59—ON SPIES

oṟṟum, urai cāṉṟa nūlum, ivai iraṇṭum teṟṟeṉka, maṉṉavaṉ kaṇ.
Verily the two eyes of a king are espionage and the celebrated code of laws.
ellārkkum ellām nikaḻpavai eññāṉṟum vallaṟital, vēntaṉ toḻil.
A king’s duty is to get day to day knowledge of everything that happens.
oṟṟiṉāṉ oṟṟi, poruḷ teriyā maṉṉavaṉ koṟṟam koḷak kiṭantatu il.

1. The sure way of achieving success for a king is to get correct information from

spies.

viṉaiceyvār, tam cuṟṟam, vēṇṭātār, eṉṟu āṅku aṉaivaraiyum ārāyvatu-oṟṟu.

1. Espionage consists of watching all people, to wit, the king’s employees, his

relations and his enemies.

128 585. kaṭāa uruvoṭu kaṇ añcātu, yāṇṭum ukā amai vallatē-oṟṟu.
585. An able spy puts on undoubted disguise, does not fear when detected, and never reveals his purpose.

tuṟantār paṭivattar āki iṟantu, ārāyntu, eṉ ceyiṉum cōrvu ilatu-oṟṟu.
A spy in the guise of an ascetic should gather information however difficult and should never be tired whatever be the troubles.
maṟaintavai kēṭka vaṟṟu āki, aṟintavai aiyappāṭu illatē-oṟṟu.
A spy should secure knowledge of things secret and should have no doubt about his information.
oṟṟu oṟṟit tanta poruḷaiyum, maṟṟum ōr oṟṟiṉāl oṟṟi, koḷal.
One must get confirmed the information supplied by one spy, by that of another.
oṟṟu oṟṟu uṇarāmai āḷka; uṭaṉ mūvar col tokka tēṟappaṭum.
Let the engagement of one spy be not known to another. Accept the information supplied independently by three spies.

129 590. ciṟappu aṟiya oṟṟiṉkaṇ ceyyaṟka; ceyyiṉ, puṟappaṭuttāṉ ākum, maṟai.
590. Let not a king honour the spy publicly; for, by so doing he will be letting out his own secret.

–

1. ūkkam uṭ 60. ūkkam uṭaimai -CHAPTER 60 HAPTER 60 HAPTER 60—ON EXERTION ON EXERTION ON EXERTION

uṭaiyar eṉappaṭuvatu ūkkam; aḵtu illār uṭaiyatu uṭaiyarō, maṟṟu?.
One’s real possession is one’s exertion. If one does not have it, can one be said to really possess anything else?
uḷḷam uṭaimai uṭaimai; poruḷ uṭaimai nillātu nīṅkiviṭum.
Exertion alone is one’s wealth; inconstant material wealth will pass away.
‘ākkam iḻantēm!’ eṉṟu allāvār-ūkkam oruvantam kaittu uṭaiyār.
Those who possess constant exertion will not grieve over the loss of their wealth.
ākkam atar viṉāyc cellum-acaivu ilā ūkkam uṭaiyāṉuḻai.
Prosperity will discover a route to a person of undaunted will.

130 594. ākkam atar viṉāyc cellum-acaivu ilā ūkkam uṭaiyāṉuḻai.
595. The length of a watery plant is determined by the depth of the water. Likewise the greatness of a person is proportionate to the strength of his will power.

uḷḷuvatu ellām uyarvu uḷḷal! maṟṟu atu taḷḷiṉum, taḷḷāmai nīrttu.
In all acts and deeds, let exertion be one’s ideal. Even if it were unattainable, its presence is enough.
citaiviṭattu olkār, uravōr;-putai ampiṉ paṭṭup pāṭu ūṉṟum kaḷiṟu.
The elephant stands undaunted despite piercing arrows; so too, a person of strong will, will not get discouraged even in a losing concern.
uḷḷam ilātavar eytār-‘ulakattu vaḷḷiyam’ eṉṉum cerukku.
A man of no strong will, cannot win the esteem of the world for his action.
pariyatu kūrṅ kōṭṭatu āyiṉum, yāṉai verūum, puli tākkuṟiṉ.
Even the huge elephant with sharp tusks dreads the attacking tiger.

131 600. uram oruvaṟku uḷḷa veṟukkai; aḵtu illār maram; makkaḷ ātalē vēṟu.
600. One’s strength is one’s exertion. Without it persons are only trees in the form of men.

1. maṭ 61. maṭi iṉmai -CHAPTER 61 CHAPTER 61 CHAPTER 61—AGAINST SLOTH AGAINST SLOTH AGAINST SLOTH

kuṭi eṉṉum kuṉṟā viḷakkam, maṭi eṉṉum mācu ūra, māyntu keṭum.
If sloth extends its darkness it will extinguish the lustrous lamp of one’s family.
maṭiyai maṭiyā oḻukal-kuṭiyaik kuṭiyāka vēṇṭupavar!.
Those who wish the esteem of their family should never encourage sloth.
maṭi maṭik koṇṭu oḻukum pētai piṟanta kuṭi maṭiyum, taṉṉiṉum muntu.
The family of the fool who hugs sloth in his own lap fades away before him.
kuṭi maṭintu, kuṟṟam perukum-maṭi maṭintu, māṇṭa uñaṟṟu ilavarkku.
Faults will be many among those who are devoid of exertion and will result in the ruin of their families.

132 605. neṭu nīr, maṟavi, maṭi, tuyil, nāṉkum keṭum nīrār kāmak kalaṉ.
605. Procrastination, carelessness, sluggardliness and sleep are the four boats fondly entered into by those who go to ruin.

paṭi uṭaiyār paṟṟu amaintakkaṇṇum, maṭi uṭaiyār māṇ payaṉ eytal aritu.

1. Even when the wealth of the rulers of all earth is within his reach, the slothful will

hardly derive any great benefit from it.

iṭipurintu, eḷḷum col kēṭpar-maṭipurintu māṇṭa uñaṟṟu ilavar.
Lovers of idleness with no praiseworthy exertion will be the butt of disgrace and will receive words of rebuke.
maṭimai kuṭimaikkaṇ taṅkiṉ, taṉ oṉṉārkku aṭimai pukuttiviṭum.
If sloth comes to stay in one’s family, it will make one the slave of one’s enemies.
kuṭi, āṇmaiyuḷ vanta kuṟṟam, oruvaṉ maṭi āṇmai māṟṟa, keṭum.

1. By conquering sloth, one can wipe out the reproach that has come over one’s

family.

133 610. maṭi ilā maṉṉavaṉ eytum-aṭi aḷantāṉ tāayatu ellām oruṅku.
610. All the universe once measured by God will be with the king of no sloth.

–

1. āḷviṉai uṭaimai -CHAPTER 62 CHAPTER 62 CHAPTER 62—ON PERSEVERANCE ON PERSEVERANCE ON PERSEVERANCE

arumai uṭaittu eṉṟu acāvāmai vēṇṭum; perumai muyaṟci tarum.
“Do not give up (your task) saying ‘O’ It is very difficult." The art of doing it comes of exertion.
viṉaikkaṇ viṉaikeṭal ōmpal-viṉaik kuṟai tīrntāriṉ tīrntaṉṟu, ulaku!.
Do not give up your task in the middle; for the world will abandon those who leave their task unfinished.
tāḷāṇmai eṉṉum takaimaikkaṇ taṅkiṟṟēvēḷāṇmai eṉṉum cerukku.

1. The greatness which consists in helping others dwells in the virtue of

persevering effort.

tāḷāṇmai illātāṉ vēḷāṇmai, pēṭi kai vāḷ āṇmai pōla, keṭum. 134
The service of one with no persevering effort is vain like the sword wielded by a hermaphrodite.
iṉpam viḻaiyāṉ, viṉai viḻaivāṉ taṉ kēḷir tuṉpam tuṭaittu ūṉṟum tūṇ.
One who does not seek pleasure but delights in work will be a pillar of support to one’s relatives in their sorrow.
muyaṟci-tiruviṉai ākkum; muyaṟṟu iṉmai iṉmai pukuttiviṭum.

1. Exertion achieves wealth; absence of it brings on poverty.

‘maṭi uḷāḷ, mā mukaṭi’ eṉpa; maṭi ilāṉ tāḷ uḷāḷ, tāmaraiyiṉāḷ.
Goddess of misfortune dwells in sloth; the Goddess of fortune lives in exertion.
poṟi iṉmai yārkkum paḻi aṉṟu; aṟivu aṟintu, āḷviṉai iṉmai paḻi.
Ill-luck is no disgrace; but it is a disgrace if one does not exert himself as to what should be done.
teyvattāṉ ākātueṉiṉum, muyaṟci taṉ mey varuttak kūli tarum.
Though fate should ordain failure, bodily exertion will yield its own reward. 135
ūḻaiyum uppakkam kāṇpar-ulaivu iṉṟit tāḻātu uñaṟṟupavar.
Those who labour hard, undaunted by obstacles will overcome destiny.

1. iṭukkaṇaḻiyāmai -CHAPTER 63 CHAPTER 63 CHAPTER 63—ON COURAGE ON COURAGE ON COURAGE

iṭukkaṇ varuṅkāl nakuka! ataṉai aṭuttu ūrvatu aḵtu oppatu il.
Laugh over your obstacles; nothing like it to push them further and further.
veḷḷattu aṉaiya iṭumpai, aṟivu uṭaiyāṉ uḷḷattiṉ uḷḷa, keṭum.
Troubles like a flood will be overcome by a courageous thought rising in the minds of the wise.
iṭumpaikku iṭumpai paṭuppar-iṭumpaikku iṭumpai paṭāatavar.
The courageous will be causing sorrow to sorrow itself.
maṭutta vāy ellām pakaṭu aṉṉāṉ uṟṟa iṭukkaṇ iṭarppāṭu uṭaittu.
Just as the buffalo drags a cart through miry depth, one who fights on will overcome his difficulties. 136
aṭukki variṉum, aḻivu ilāṉ uṟṟa iṭukkaṇ iṭukkaṇ paṭum.
The troubles of one who braves a series of adversity wear out and disappear.
‘aṟṟēm!’ eṉṟu allaṟpaṭupavō-‘peṟṟēm!’ eṉṟu ōmputal tēṟṟātavar.

1. Will those who do not during prosperity exultingly say “we are rich”, cry out

(during adversity) “Oh, we are destitute”?

‘ilakkam, uṭampu iṭumpaikku’ eṉṟu, kalakkattaik kaiyāṟāk koḷḷātām, mēl.
The great know that the body is ever the target of trouble and will not regard trouble as trouble at all.
iṉpam viḻaiyāṉ, ‘iṭumpai iyalpu’ eṉpāṉ, tuṉpam uṟutal ilaṉ.
He who never gives way to sorrow, will not long for pleasure; he will regard trouble as quite natural.
iṉpattuḷ iṉpam viḻaiyātāṉ, tuṉpattuḷ tuṉpam uṟutal ilaṉ.
He who does seek for pleasure in pleasure will not be vexed in sorrow.

137 630. iṉṉāmai iṉpam eṉak koḷiṉ, ākum, taṉ oṉṉār viḻaiyum ciṟappu.

1. One who regards trouble as pleasure will gain the elevation which his enemies

desire (for themselves).

End of Kingship End of Kingship

SECTION II. LIMBS OF THE STATE SECTION II. LIMBS OF THE STATE

1. amaiccu - 64. amaiccu -CHAPTER 64 CHAPTER 64 CHAPTER 64—ON MINISTERS ON MINISTERS ON MINISTERS

karuviyum, kālamum, ceykaiyum, ceyyum aruviṉaiyum, māṇṭatu-amaiccu.
He is the minister who, finds out the means, the time, the deed and its full accomplishment.
vaṉkaṇ, kuṭikāttal, kaṟṟu aṟital, āḷviṉaiyōṭu aintuṭaṉ māṇṭatu-amaiccu.
A minister should have five qualities; tenacity of purpose, birth in a respectable family, welfare of the people, profound learning and perseverance.
pirittalum, pēṇikkoḷalum, pirintārp poruttalum, vallatu-amaiccu.
A minister must be able to separate a foe from his ally, befriend allies and reunite separated allies.

138 634. teritalum, tērntu ceyalum, orutalaiyāc collalum vallatu-amaiccu.
634. A minister should study the consequences of an act and carry it successfully by a decisive speech.

aṟaṉ aṟintu, āṉṟu amainta collāṉ, eññāṉṟum tiṟaṉ aṟintāṉ, tērccit tuṇai.

1. He is a helpful counselor who is righteous and considerate in his speech, and

always knows how to act.

matinuṭpam nūlōṭu uṭaiyārkku ati nuṭpam yā uḷa, muṉ niṟpavai?.
To a keen intellect combined with learning no difficulty stands in the way.
ceyaṟkai aṟintakkaṭaittum, ulakattu iyaṟkai aṟintu, ceyal!.
Even though you know the rules, act in conformity with the world opinion.
aṟi koṉṟu, aṟiyāṉ eṉiṉum, uṟuti uḻaiyiruntāṉ kūṟal kaṭaṉ.
Though a king listens not to wise words it is the duty of the minister to speak firmly to him.
paḻutu eṇṇum mantiriyiṉ, pakkattuḷ tev ōr 139 eḻupatu kōṭi uṟum.

1. A treacherous minister by the king’s side is equal to seventy crores of enemies.

muṟaippaṭac cūḻntum, muṭivilavē ceyvartiṟappāṭu ilāatavar.
Ministers who have no requisite ability will leave a task unfinished though well begun.

1. col vaṉ 65. col vaṉmai -CHAPTER 65 CHAPTER 65 CHAPTER 65—ON GOOD SPEECH ON GOOD SPEECH ON GOOD SPEECH

’nā nalam’ eṉṉum nalaṉ uṭaimai; an nalam yā nalattu uḷḷatūum aṉṟu.

1. The virtue of good speech is greater than all the other good qualities found in

one.

ākkamum, kēṭum, ataṉāl varutalāl, kāttu ōmpal, colliṉkaṇ cōrvu.
As I both prosperity and ruin are caused by words, a minister must guard against imperfection in his speech.
kēṭṭārp piṇikkum takai avāy, kēḷārum vēṭpa, moḻivatu ām-col.

1. The minister must use such words as have the effect of strengthening the

approval of those who agree and differ. 140

tiṟaṉ aṟintu colluka, collai; aṟaṉum poruḷum ataṉiṉ ūṅku il.
Speak having regard to one’s capacity to listen; for there is no greater virtue nor wealth than that.
colluka collai-piṟitu ōr col ac collai vellum col iṉmai aṟintu.
Speak out what you have to say only after knowing that your own argument will not be turned against you.
vēṭpat tām colli, piṟar col payaṉ kōṭal māṭciyiṉ mācu aṟṟār kōḷ.

1. A good minister wins the approval of the listener by persuasive speech.

colal vallaṉ, cōrvu ilaṉ, añcāṉ, avaṉai ikal vellal yārkkum aritu.
A clever speaker is neither tired nor fearful; none can defeat him in a debate.
viraintu toḻil kēṭkum ñālam-nirantu iṉitu collutal vallārp peṟiṉ.

1. Cogent reasoning and soft speech can bring the people over to one’s side.

141 649. pala collak kāmuṟuvar maṉṟa- mācu aṟṟa cila collal tēṟṟātavar.

1. Those who cannot say a few words correctly will evince a desire to speak much.

iṇar ūḻttum nāṟā malar aṉaiyar-kaṟṟatu uṇara virittu uraiyātār.
Those who cannot explain well what they have learnt resemble the odourless flowers with their petals open.

1. viṉ 66. viṉait tūyma ait tūyma ait tūymai -CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 66—ON PURITY IN ACTION ON PURITY IN ACTION ON PURITY IN ACTION

tuṇai nalam ākkam tarūum; viṉai nalam vēṇṭiya ellām tarum.

1. A man’s friends bring prosperity to him; but his good acts fetch him his wish.

eṉṟum oruvutal vēṇṭum-pukaḻoṭu naṉṟi payavā viṉai.

1. That deed must always be discarded which does not promote virtue and

produce fame.

ōotal vēṇṭum, oḷi māḻkum ceyviṉai- ‘āatum!’ eṉṉumavar.

1. Those who wish to become great must always avoid deeds which darken the

lustre of their reputation.

142 654. iṭukkaṇ paṭiṉum, iḷivanta ceyyārnaṭukku aṟṟa kāṭciyavar.
654. Even adversity does not prompt men of unswerving purity to do mean things.

’eṟṟu!’ eṉṟu iraṅkuva ceyyaṟka; ceyvāṉēl, maṟṟu aṉṉa ceyyāmai naṉṟu.

1. Desist from deeds which you may regret later; but if you once happen to do

such a deed, repeat it not.

īṉṟāḷ paci kāṇpāṉ āyiṉum, ceyyaṟka cāṉṟōr paḻikkum viṉai.

1. Though you find your mother starving, do not do anything which will be

condemned by the great.

paḻi malaintu eytiya ākkattiṉ, cāṉṟōr kaḻi nalkuravē talai.
Better the poverty adopted by the great than the wealth resulting from sin.
kaṭinta kaṭintu orār ceytārkku avaitām muṭintālum, pīḻai tarum.
Those who do knowingly forbidden things will suffer in the end, although they may succeed in doing them.
aḻak koṇṭa ellām aḻap pōm; iḻappiṉum, 143 piṟpayakkum, naṟpālavai.
What is secured by causing tears to others will be lost with tears. But good deeds will result in good later.
calattāl poruḷ ceytu ēmākkal-pacu maṇkalattuḷ nīr peytu, irīiyaṟṟu.
A minister who promotes his king’s resources by fraud is like one who tries to store up water in a pot of unburnt clay.

–

1. viṉ 67. viṉait tiṭpam -CHAPTER 67—ON RESOLUTENESS ON RESOLUTENESS ON RESOLUTENESS

viṉait tiṭpam eṉpatu oruvaṉ maṉat tiṭpam; maṟṟaiya ellām piṟa.
Determination in action is one’s resolution. All others are nothing.
ūṟu orāl, uṟṟapiṉ olkāmai, iv iraṇṭiṉ āṟu eṉpar-āyntavar kōḷ.
Ministers versed in lore will not do unprofitable deeds, and if they do, they will not regret it.
kaṭaik koṭkac ceytakkatu āṇmai; iṭaik koṭkiṉ, eṟṟā viḻumam tarum.
A clever minister publishes a deed after its completion; if it becomes public in the intermediate stage, it will end in trouble.

144 664. collutal yārkkum eḷiya; ariya ām, colliya vaṇṇam ceyal.
664. It is easy for one to say, but it is difficult to do it in the said manner.

vīṟu eyti māṇṭār viṉait tiṭpam, vēntaṉkaṇ ūṟu eyti, uḷḷappaṭum.
The resolution of a thoughtful and good minister in strengthening his monarch will earn all praise.
eṇṇiya eṇṇiyāṅku eytupa-eṇṇiyār tiṇṇiyar ākappeṟiṉ.
Firm of purpose, ministers carry out their resolution.
uruvu kaṇṭu eḷḷāmai vēṇṭum-uruḷ perun tērkku accu āṇi aṉṉār uṭaittu.

1. Do not despise one for lack of personality. Does not the little nail of the chariot

keep the wheel going?

kalaṅkātu kaṇṭa viṉaikkaṇ, tuḷaṅkātu tūkkam kaṭintu ceyal.
What you have clearly decided to do, do it without hesitation and delay.
tuṉpam uṟavariṉum ceyka, tuṇivu āṟṟi- 145 iṉpam payakkum viṉai.

1. Be resolute in deed which ends in happiness, though troublesome at the

beginning.

eṉait tiṭpam eytiyakkaṇṇum, viṉait tiṭpam vēṇṭārai vēṇṭātu, ulaku.
The world will not esteem him who has no determined will, notwithstanding his other strong virtues.

1. viṉ 68. viṉai ceyal vakai ai ceyal vakai ai ceyal vakai -CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 68—ON THE MEANS OF ACTION ON THE MEANS OF ACTION ON THE MEANS OF ACTION

cūḻcci muṭivu tuṇivu eytal; at tuṇivu tāḻcciyuḷ taṅkutal tītu.
Decision is the result of deliberation. It is harmful to rest it low.
tūṅkuka, tūṅkic ceyaṟpāla; tūṅkaṟka, tūṅkātu ceyyum viṉai.

1. Delay such things as call for delay. But never delay that which cannot be

delayed.

ollum vāy ellām viṉai naṉṟē; ollākkāl, cellum vāy nōkkic ceyal.

1. Achieve a thing wherever possible; if it were not possible adopt a cautious

policy.

146 674. viṉai, pakai eṉṟu iraṇṭiṉ eccam, niṉaiyuṅkāl, tī eccam pōlat teṟum.
674. An unfinished deed and an unfinished fight will like a half extinguished fire, cause ultimate harm.

poruḷ, karuvi, kālam, viṉai, iṭaṉoṭu aintum iruḷ tīra eṇṇic ceyal!.
Do a thing after carefully deliberating on five things; resources, means, the time, the nature of the deed, and the place.
muṭivum, iṭaiyūṟum, muṟṟiyāṅku eytum paṭupayaṉum, pārttuc ceyal!.
In doing a thing, weigh deeply your aim, the hindrances and the final gain thereof.
ceyviṉai ceyvāṉ ceyalmuṟai, av viṉai uḷ aṟivāṉ uḷḷam koḷal.

1. The manner in which a thing should be done is to be determined after consulting

an expert.

viṉaiyāṉ viṉai ākkikkōṭal-naṉai kavuḷ yāṉaiyāl yāṉai yāttaṟṟu.

1. Use one act to achieve another just as one wild elephant is used to capture

another.

147 679. naṭṭārkku nalla ceyaliṉ viraintatēoṭṭārai oṭṭikkoḷal.

1. It is much more urgent to secure the alliance of one’s enemies, than to do good

to one’s friends.

uṟai ciṟiyār uḷ naṭuṅkal añci, kuṟai peṟiṉ, koḷvar periyārp paṇintu.
Fearing that their weak king may quake with fear, ministers will bow before superior kings and accept their terms.

–

1. tūtu - CHAPTER 69— ON EMBASSY

aṉpu uṭaimai, āṉṟa kuṭippiṟattal, vēntu avām paṇpu uṭaimai,- tūtu uraippāṉ paṇpu.

1. The characteristics of an ambassador are lovability, noble birth and other

qualities which evoke the monarch’s respect.

aṉpu, aṟivu, ārāynta colvaṉmai-tūtu uraippārkku iṉṟiyamaiyāta mūṉṟu.
Love, wisdom, ability to talk with full knowledge, are the three indispensable qualities of an ambassador.
nūlāruḷ nūl vallaṉ ākutal-vēlāruḷ veṉṟi viṉai uraippāṉ paṇpu. 148

1. A skilful ambassador who wishes to gain his mission among other monarchs

wielding the spear must be more learned than the learned.

aṟivu, uru, ārāynta kalvi, im mūṉṟaṉ ceṟivu uṭaiyāṉ celka, viṉaikku.

1. Only those who have wisdom, personality and mature scholarship must be sent

on a mission.

tokac colli, tūvāta nīkki, nakac colli, naṉṟi payappatu ām-tūtu.
A good ambassador is he who can talk cogently and sweetly and who is not offensive even in saying things that are disagreeable.
kaṟṟu, kaṇ añcāṉ, celac colli, kālattāl takkatu aṟivatu ām-tūtu.
The envoy must be learned, fearless, persuasive and expedient.
kaṭaṉ aṟintu, kālam karuti, iṭaṉ aṟintu, eṇṇi, uraippāṉ talai.
The best envoy states his case convincingly knowing his duty at the proper time and place.
tūymai, tuṇaimai, tuṇivu uṭaimai, im mūṉṟiṉ vāymai-vaḻi uraippāṉ paṇpu. 149

1. The qualifications of a true envoy are morality, loyalty to his monarch and

courage.

viṭu māṟṟam vēntarkku uraippāṉ-vaṭu māṟṟam vāy cōrā vaṉkaṇavaṉ.
He who does not falter even when faced with personal danger is fit to deliver his king’s message.
iṟuti payappiṉum, eñcātu, iṟaivaṟku uṟuti payappatu ām-tūtu.
A true envoy delivers his message even at the risk of death.

1. maṉṉ 70. maṉṉaraic cērntu o araic cērntu o araic cērntu oḻukal -CHAPTER 70 CHAPTER 70 CHAPTER 70—ON CO-OPERATION WITH KING OPERATION WITH KING OPERATION WITH KING

akalātu, aṇukātu, tīk kāyvār pōlkaikal vēntarc cērntu oḻukuvār.

1. Those who personally serve the monarch do not go too near him or too far away

from him, like those who warm themselves by the fire side.

maṉṉar viḻaipa viḻaiyāmai, maṉṉarāṉ maṉṉiya ākkam tarum.

1. Not to covet those things which are desired by the monarch produce lasting

wealth.

150 693. pōṟṟiṉ ariyavai pōṟṟal-kaṭuttapiṉ, tēṟṟutal yārkkum aritu.
693. To save himself a minister must avoid gross faults, for it is difficult to please, once being found fault with.

cevic collum, cērnta nakaiyum, avittu oḻukalāṉṟa periyār akattu!.
In the presence of the great avoid whispering and smiling.
ep poruḷum ōrār, toṭarār, maṟṟu ap poruḷai viṭṭakkāl kēṭka, maṟai!.
Let not the minister lend ear to the king’s secret or be inquisitive to know it. But let him listen to it when the king reveals it.
kuṟippu aṟintu, kālam karuti, veṟuppu ila vēṇṭupa, vēṭpac colal!.

1. Watch the mood of the monarch. Talk to him pleasantly and inoffensively.

vēṭpaṉa colli, viṉai ila eññāṉṟum kēṭpiṉum, collā viṭal!.
Speak desirable things though unasked, but abstain from profitless talk although solicited by him.
‘iḷaiyar, iṉa muṟaiyar’ eṉṟu ikaḻār, niṉṟa 151 oḷiyoṭu oḻukappaṭum.
Do not disrespect a king on the ground of age or kinship, but behave as befits his royalty.
‘koḷappaṭṭēm’ eṉṟu eṇṇi, koḷḷāta ceyyārtuḷakku aṟṟa kāṭciyavar.
Men of high intelligence, respected by a king will not indulge in things revolting to him.
paḻaiyam eṉak karuti, paṇpu alla ceyyum keḻutakaimai kēṭu tarum.
To take liberty under the cover of old acquaintance and do unwanted things is to court ill.

1. kuṟ 71. kuṟippu aṟital -CHAPTER 71 CHAPTER 71 CHAPTER 71—ON READING ONE’S INTENTIONS ON READING ONE’S INTENTIONS ON READING ONE’S INTENTIONS

kūṟāmai nōkki, kuṟippu aṟivāṉ, eññāṉṟum māṟā nīr vaiyakku aṇi.
He who is able to divine one’s hidden intentions is a jewel among men on this sea-girt earth.
aiyappaṭāatu akattatu uṇarvāṉait teyvattoṭu oppak koḷal!.
He who would speak out fearlessly what he feels will be regarded equal to God.

152 703. kuṟippiṉ kuṟippu uṇarvārai, uṟuppiṉuḷ yātu koṭuttum, koḷal!.
703. The king at any cost should secure among his associates one who can discover by intuition another’s unexpressed thoughts.

kuṟittatu kūṟāmaik koḷvāroṭu, ēṉai uṟuppu ōraṉaiyarāl, vēṟu.
Those who are able to discover unexpressed thoughts may be deemed superior to other’s service.
kuṟippiṉ kuṟippu uṇarāāyiṉ, uṟuppiṉuḷ eṉṉa payattavō, kaṇ?.
Of what avail is the eye, among the organs of sense, if it does not note another’s intentions?
aṭuttatu kāṭṭum paḷiṅkupōl, neñcam kaṭuttatu kāṭṭum, mukam.
Like a mirror that reflects what is near it, the face will show what passes in the mind.
mukattiṉ mutukkuṟaintatu uṇṭō-uvappiṉum kāyiṉum, tāṉ muntuṟum?

1. Is there anything more expressive than the face which is an index as well as

agony?

mukam nōkki niṟka amaiyum-akam nōkki, 153 uṟṟatu uṇarvārp peṟiṉ.
If you come across one, who can read your face, study one’s face as one does yours.
pakaimaiyum kēṇmaiyum kaṇ uraikkum-kaṇṇiṉ vakaimai uṇarvārp peṟiṉ.
The eye proclaims friendliness and hostility to one who can read the message of the eyes.
’nuṇṇiyam’ eṉpār aḷakkum kōl, kāṇuṅkāl, kaṇ allatu, illai piṟa.
There is no other measuring rod, used by intelligent ministers than the monarch’s eye.

1. avai aṟ 72. avai aṟital -CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 72—ON KNOWING THE ASSEMBLY ON KNOWING THE ASSEMBLY ON KNOWING THE ASSEMBLY

avai aṟintu, ārāyntu, colluka-colliṉ tokai aṟinta tūymaiyavar!.
Men should weigh their words in speaking when addressing an audience.
iṭai terintu, naṉku uṇarntu, colluka- colliṉ naṭai terinta naṉmaiyavar!.
Good people who know the value of the language they employ, must speak noting how their words are received.
avai aṟiyār, collal mēṟkoḷpavar colliṉ 154 vakai aṟiyār; vallatūum il.
The learning of those who speak without taking into consideration the assembly addressed or ignorant of the art of speaking can be of no use to them.
oḷiyārmuṉ oḷḷiyar ātal! veḷiyārmuṉ vāṉ cutai vaṇṇam koḷal!.

1. Before brilliant people be brilliant; before plain people be as plain as white chalk.

’naṉṟu’ eṉṟavaṟṟuḷḷum naṉṟē-mutuvaruḷ muntu kiḷavāc ceṟivu.
The humility to maintain silence before superiors is the best of all good qualities.
āṟṟiṉ nilaitaḷarntaṟṟē-viyaṉ pulam ēṟṟu, uṇarvārmuṉṉar iḻukku.
To be censured by an assembly of the learned wise is like losing one’s balance while on the road to salvation.
kaṟṟu aṟintār kalvi viḷaṅkum-kacaṭu aṟac col terital vallār akattu.

1. The scholarship of the learned shines brilliantly before those who can

appreciate faultless speech.

uṇarvatu uṭaiyārmuṉ collal-vaḷarvataṉ pāttiyuḷ nīr corintaṟṟu. 155
Speaking before the wise is like feeding crops with water.
pul avaiyuḷ poccāntum collaṟka-nal avaiyuḷ naṉku celac colluvār!.
Those who say good things before a good assembly should not even in forgetfulness say the same before the illiterate.
aṅkaṇattuḷ ukka amiḻtu aṟṟāl-tam kaṇattar allārmuṉ kōṭṭi koḷal!.
Entering an assembly of men of unequal respectability will be like pouring nectar in an unclean courtyard.

1. avai añcāmai 73. avai añcāmai -CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 73—NOT TO BE AFRAID OF ASSEMBLY NOT TO BE AFRAID OF ASSEMBLY NOT TO BE AFRAID OF ASSEMBLY

vakai aṟintu, val avai, vāycōrār-colliṉ tokai aṟinta tūymaiyavar.
The expert in the art of speaking will not flounder, addressing an assembly of the learned.
kaṟṟāruḷ kaṟṟār eṉappaṭuvar-kaṟṟārmuṉ kaṟṟa celac colluvār.
Those will be deemed foremost among the learned, who can speak learned things acceptable to the learned.

156 723. pakaiyakattuc cāvār eḷiyar; ariyar avaiyakattu añcātavar.
723. Many die in the field of battle. But few are those who can fear fools addressing an assembly.

kaṟṟārmuṉ kaṟṟa celac colli, tām kaṟṟa, mikkāruḷ, mikka koḷal.

1. Speak to the learned what you have learnt, and receive from them much that

you have to learn.

āṟṟiṉ, aḷavu aṟintu kaṟka-avai añcā māṟṟam koṭuttaṟporuṭṭu.
Understand the full scope of learning and learn, so that you may, without fear, reply effectively in an assembly.
vāḷoṭu eṉ, vaṉkaṇṇar allārkku?-nūloṭu eṉ, nuṇ avai añcupavarkku?.
Of what use is the sword for the unvaliant? Likewise of what use is learning for the timid to face an assembly?
pakaiyakattup pēṭi kai oḷ vāḷ-avaiyakattu añcumavaṉ kaṟṟa nūl.
The learning of one afraid of an assembly is like the shining sword in the hands of an eunuch in a battle-field. 157
pallavai kaṟṟum, payam ilarē-nal avaiyuḷ naṉku celac collātār.
Vain is the versed learning of one who can not address with profit a learned assembly.
‘kallātavariṉ kaṭai’ eṉpa- ‘kaṟṟu aṟintum, nallār avai añcuvār’.
The learned who are afraid of a good assembly will be regarded as worse than the illiterate.
uḷar eṉiṉum, illāroṭu oppar-kaḷaṉ añci, kaṟṟa celac collātār.
Dead though alive are those who are afraid to address an assembly on what they have learnt.

1. nāṭ 74. nāṭu -CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 74—ON THE KINGDOM ON THE KINGDOM ON THE KINGDOM

taḷḷā viḷaiyuḷum, takkārum, tāḻvu ilāc celvarum, cērvatu- nāṭu.

1. That is a kingdom which has undiminishing produce, righteous people and

fadeless riches.

perum poruḷāṉ peṭṭakkatu āki, aruṅ kēṭṭāl, āṟṟa viḷaivatu-nāṭu. 158

1. That is a kingdom which has boundless wealth coveted for by other nations and

has imperishable fertile resources.

poṟai oruṅku mēlvaruṅkāl tāṅki, iṟaivaṟku iṟai oruṅku nērvatu-nāṭu.

1. That alone is a kingdom which accommodates immigrants and whose king

receives taxes willingly paid.

uṟu paciyum, ōvāp piṇiyum, ceṟu pakaiyum, cērātu iyalvatu-nāṭu.
That is a kingdom where excessive hunger, incurable diseases and destructive enemies are absent.
pal kuḻuvum, pāḻceyyum uṭpakaiyum, vēntu alaikkum kol kuṟumpum illatu-nāṭu.
That is a kingdom where there are not many (disloyal) associations, destructive internal dissensions and disturbing murderous chieftains.
kēṭu aṟiyā, keṭṭa iṭattum vaḷam kuṉṟā nāṭu, eṉpa, nāṭṭiṉ talai.

1. That is the top kingdom which is not harassed by an enemy, and which even if

harassed does not experience want.

iru puṉalum, vāynta malaiyum, varu puṉalum, val araṇum-nāṭṭiṟku uṟuppu. 159

1. Surface and subsoil water, well situated hills from which flow waters and an

invincible fort are the limbs of a kingdom.

piṇi iṉmai, celvam, viḷaivu, iṉpam, ēmamaṇi eṉpa, nāṭṭiṟku-iv aintu.
Five are the ornaments of a kingdom - absence of disease, wealth, fertility, happiness and security.
nāṭu eṉpa, nāṭā vaḷattaṉa; nāṭu alla, nāṭa, vaḷam tarum nāṭu.

1. That is a kingdom which has rich natural resources. That is no kingdom which

yields wealth by toil.

āṅku amaivu eytiyakkaṇṇum payam iṉṟēvēntu amaivu illāta nāṭu.

1. Vain is the kingdom which may have all the excellence except harmony

between the ruler and the ruled.

1. araṇ 75. araṇ-CHAPTER 75 CHAPTER 75 CHAPTER 75—ON FORTRESS ON FORTRESS ON FORTRESS

āṟṟupavarkkum araṇ poruḷ; añcit taṟ pōṟṟupavarkkum poruḷ.
A fortress is important alike to a conquering foe and a timid defender.

160 742. maṇi nīrum, maṇṇum, malaiyum, aṇi niḻal kāṭum, uṭaiyatu-araṇ.

1. It is a fortress which has sparkling water, open spaces, hills and cool and shady

forests round.

‘uyarvu, akalam, tiṇmai, arumai, in nāṉkiṉ amaivu araṇ’.eṉṟu uraikkum nūl.
Treatises on fortification state that the walls of a stronghold should be lofty, broad, strong and inaccessible.
ciṟu kāppiṉ pēr iṭattatu āki, uṟu pakai ūkkam aḻippatu-araṇ.

1. A fortress which has a name as a natural defence cools the heat of the attacking

foe.

koḷaṟku aritāy, koṇṭa kūḻttu āki, akattār nilaikku eḷitu ām nīratu-araṇ.

1. A good fortress is that which is inaccessible, is sufficiently provided and is easily

defensible from within.

ellāp poruḷum uṭaittāy, iṭattu utavum nal āḷ uṭaiyatu-araṇ.
A fortress shall have all things needed by its residents including capable warriors.

161 747. muṟṟiyum, muṟṟātu eṟintum, aṟaippaṭuttum, paṟṟaṟku ariyatu-araṇ.
747. A good fortress cannot be besieged or taken by storm or be undermined.

muṟṟu āṟṟi muṟṟiyavaraiyum, paṟṟu āṟṟi, paṟṟiyār velvatu-araṇ.
The inmates of a good fortress can defend themselves even when besieged on all sides.
muṉai mukattu māṟṟalar cāya, viṉaimukattu vīṟu eyti māṇṭatu-araṇ.

1. That fortress is famous which makes it possible for its defenders to destroy the

besiegers even at the outset.

eṉai māṭcittu ākiyakkaṇṇum, viṉai māṭci illārkaṇ illatu-araṇ.
Of what use are these barriers of defence to a stronghold if it possesses no men of valour.

1. poruḷ 76. poruḷceyal vakai ceyal vakai ceyal vakai -CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 76—ON ACQUISITION OF WEALTH ON ACQUISITION OF WEALTH ON ACQUISITION OF WEALTH

poruḷ allavaraip poruḷākac ceyyum poruḷ allatu, illai poruḷ.

1. There is nothing else than riches that make insignificant men prominent.

162 752. illārai ellārum eḷḷuvar; celvarai ellārum ceyvar, ciṟappu.
752. All will despise the poor; all will accord honour to the wealthy.

poruḷ eṉṉum poyyā viḷakkam, iruḷ aṟukkumeṇṇiya tēyattuc ceṉṟu.

1. The faultless lamp of riches will dispel the darkness (of trouble) in any country to

which it is taken.

aṟaṉ īṉum; iṉpamum īṉum;-tiṟaṉ aṟintu, tītu iṉṟi vanta poruḷ.
The wealth accumulated justly and without sin will confer virtue and happiness.
aruḷoṭum, aṉpoṭum vārāp poruḷ ākkam pullār, puraḷa viṭal!.
Let not the king accept the wealth not acquired through mercy and love.
uṟu poruḷum, ulku poruḷum, taṉ oṉṉārt teṟu poruḷum,-vēntaṉ poruḷ.

1. Unclaimed wealth, tolls and tributes by the subdued chieftains are the king’s

property.

aruḷ eṉṉum aṉpu īṉ kuḻavi, poruḷ eṉṉum celvac ceviliyāl, uṇṭu. 163

1. What is mercy, but the child of love? What is wealth, but the nurse of mercy?

kuṉṟu ēṟi, yāṉaip pōr kaṇṭaṟṟāl-taṉ kaittu oṉṟu uṇṭākac ceyvāṉ viṉai.
The deeds of the wealthy are like elephant fights witnessed from a hill.
ceyka poruḷai! ceṟunar cerukku aṟukkum eḵku ataṉiṉ kūriyatu il.
Store up wealth; no other weapon is sharper than that to destroy the enemy’s pride.
oṇ poruḷ kāḻppa iyaṟṟiyārkku, eṇ poruḷēṉai iraṇṭum oruṅku.
Amass wealth by lawful means; the other two (virtue and happiness) will follow.

1. paṭ 77. paṭai -CHAPTER 77 CHAPTER 77 CHAPTER 77—ON THE VALUE OF AN ARMY HE VALUE OF AN ARMY HE VALUE OF AN ARMY

uṟuppu amaintu, ūṟu añcā, vel paṭai-vēntaṉ veṟukkaiyuḷ ellām talai.
A well-equipped and fearlessly conquering army is the foremost wealth of a king.
ulaivu iṭattu ūṟu añcā vaṉkaṇ, tolaivu iṭattu, tol paṭaikku allāl, aritu. 164
The heroic valour of rallying round the king even in adversity is peculiar to hereditary force, and not to others.
olittakkāl eṉ ām, uvari elippakai? nākam uyirppa, keṭum.
The hiss of a cobra stills for ever an army of rats as vast as the ocean.
aḻivu iṉṟu, aṟaipōkātu āki, vaḻivanta vaṉkaṇatuvē-paṭai.
It is a heroic force that is hereditary, undiminished in powers and not undermined by the enemy.
kūṟṟu uṭaṉṟu mēlvariṉum, kūṭi, etir niṟkum āṟṟalatuvē-paṭai.
A valiant army faces courageously the advancing foe even when led by the God of Death.
maṟam, māṉam, māṇṭa vaḻic celavu, tēṟṟam, eṉa nāṉkē ēmam, paṭaikku.
Heroism, honour, tried policy and fidelity to the king, these four are an army’s shelter.
tār tāṅkic celvatu tāṉai-talaivanta pōr tāṅkum taṉmai aṟintu. 165

1. That alone is an army which understands the enemy’s tactics, and fearlessly

advances.

aṭaltakaiyum, āṟṟalum, il eṉiṉum, tāṉai paṭait takaiyāṉ pāṭu peṟum.

1. An army by mere show can achieve distinction though it may lack bold advance

or even self-protection.

ciṟumaiyum, cellāt tuṉiyum, vaṟumaiyum, illāyiṉ vellum, paṭai.

1. It is a winning army which has neither littleness, nor irremovable bitterness and

poverty.

nilai makkaḷ cāla uṭaittueṉiṉum, tāṉai talaimakkaḷ ilvaḻi il.
Of what avail is the army of heroic warriors if there be no general to guide them?

1. paṭ 78. paṭaic cerukku aic cerukku aic cerukku -CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 78—ON COURAGE OF TH ON COURAGE OF TH ON COURAGE OF THE ARM

eṉṉai muṉ nillaṉmiṉ-tevvir! palar, eṉṉai muṉ niṉṟu kal niṉṟavar.
O, Enemies! Do not stand in front of our Lord; for many who stood before him are now standing as hero-stones.

166 772. kāṉa muyal eyta ampiṉil, yāṉai piḻaitta vēl ēntal iṉitu.
772. Better to bear the spear hurled against an elephant, though it misses its aim, than the arrow aimed against a hare in the forest.

pēr āṇmai eṉpa, taṟukaṇ; oṉṟu uṟṟakkāl, ūrāṇmai maṟṟu ataṉ eḵku.
Fearlessness is a manly virtue; but in distress, mercy is its keen edge.
kai vēl kaḷiṟṟoṭu pōkki varupavaṉ mey vēl paṟiyā, nakum.
The warrior who hurls his spear against an advancing elephant enjoys to pull it from his body.
viḻitta kaṇ vēl koṇṭu eṟiya, aḻittu imaippiṉ, ōṭṭu aṉṟō, vaṉkaṇavarkku?.
If the fierce look (of a warrior) winks at a dart aimed at him, it is tantamount to a retreat.
viḻuppuṇ paṭāta nāḷ ellām vaḻukkiṉuḷ vaikkum, taṉ nāḷai eṭuttu.

1. Reflecting on the days past, a hero regards those days vain in which he has not

received a wound.

167 777. cuḻalum icai vēṇṭi, vēṇṭā uyirār kaḻal yāppuk kārikai nīrttu.
777. The anklet is a fitting adornment to warriors who fight fearless of life for a worldwide reputation.

uṟiṉ, uyir añcā maṟavar, iṟaivaṉ ceṟiṉum, cīr kuṉṟal ilar.
Warriors unmindful of their lives in battle will not be daunted even by the wrath of their obstructing monarch.
iḻaittatu ikavāmaic cāvārai, yārē, piḻaittatu oṟukkiṟpavar?.
Who can find fault with those (soldiers) who will lay down their lives to fulfil their vow?
purantār kaṇ nīr malkac cākiṟpiṉ, cākkāṭu irantu kōḷ-takkatu uṭaittu.

1. Ye! Soldiers, endeavour to earn a death of glory which will move your chief to

tears.

1. naṭ 79. naṭpu -CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 79—ON FRIENDSHIP ON FRIENDSHIP ON FRIENDSHIP

ceyaṟku ariya yā uḷa, naṭpiṉ?-atupōl viṉaikku ariya yā uḷa, kāppu?. 168
What is there more important than an ally; and what is more helpful than securing his aid.
niṟai nīra, nīravar kēṇmai, piṟai; matip piṉ nīra, pētaiyār naṭpu.
The friendship of the wise resembles the waxing crescent; the friendship of the unwise fades away like the waning moon.
naviltoṟum nūl nayam pōlum-payiltoṟum, paṇpu uṭaiyāḷar toṭarpu.

1. Even as good literature enraptures its reader the attachment of good men

increases a king’s happiness.

nakutaṟporuṭṭu aṉṟu, naṭṭal; mikutikkaṇ mēṟceṉṟu iṭittaṟporuṭṭu.
Friendship is made not for pleasure but it is a corrective to him who errs on the other side.
puṇarcci, paḻakutal vēṇṭā; uṇarccitāṉ naṭpu ām kiḻamai tarum.
Friendship is not cultivated by mere acquaintance. It is the harmony that cements the bond of friendship.
mukam naka, naṭpatu naṭpu aṉṟu; neñcattu 169 akam naka, naṭpatu-naṭpu.
Smile is no index for friendship. Real friendship makes the heart also smile.
aḻiviṉavai nīkki, āṟu uyttu, aḻiviṉkaṇ allal uḻappatu ām-naṭpu.
Friendship prevents harmful deeds being committed and does beneficial things sharing the other’s misfortunes.
uṭukkai iḻantavaṉ kai pōla, āṅkē iṭukkaṇ kaḷaivatu ām-naṭpu.

1. Friendship removes suffering even as promptly as the hand which clutches the

slipping garment.

’naṭpiṟku vīṟṟirukkai yātu?’ eṉiṉ, koṭpu iṉṟi ollumvāy ūṉṟum nilai.
If one asks where friendship abides, it lies in timely aid.
‘iṉaiyar, ivar emakku; iṉṉam yām’ eṉṟu puṉaiyiṉum, pulleṉṉum-naṭpu.

1. Even one may say, “These are my friends; I am deeply attached to them". Yet, it

may be insignificant friendship.

1. naṭ 80. naṭpu ārāytal pu ārāytal pu ārāytal -CHAPTER 80 CHAPTER 80 CHAPTER 80—ON TRUE FRIENDSHIP ON TRUE FRIENDSHIP ON TRUE FRIENDSHIP

170 791. nāṭātu naṭṭaliṉ kēṭu illai; naṭṭapiṉ, vīṭu illai, naṭpu āḷpavarkku.

1. Nothing causes greater harm than the indiscriminate choice of friends; for one

cannot give up one’s chosen friends.

āyntu āyntu koḷḷātāṉ kēṇmai, kaṭaimuṟai, tāṉ cām tuyaram tarum.
The friendship entered into without repeated tests causes grief till the end of one’s life.
kuṇaṉum, kuṭimaiyum, kuṟṟamum, kuṉṟā iṉaṉum, aṟintu yākka naṭpu.

1. Make friends with one after knowing one’s character, ancestry, defects and

one’s great associates.

kuṭip piṟantu, taṉkaṇ paḻi nāṇuvāṉaik koṭuttum koḷal vēṇṭum, naṭpu.
Even by paying a price secure the friendship of one of noble family who fears a blot on his character.
aḻac colli, allatu iṭittu, vaḻakku aṟiya vallār naṭpu āyntu koḷal!.
Make after proper test friendship with the wise who make you weep for a crime and chastise when you err.

171 796. kēṭṭiṉum uṇṭu, ōr uṟuti-kiḷaiñarai nīṭṭi aḷappatu ōr kōl.

1. Adversity has its uses, for it is the touchstone that tries the genuine friend.

ūtiyam eṉpatu oruvaṟkup pētaiyār kēṇmai orīi viṭal.
One must regard it as a windfall if one is able to shake off unwise friends.
uḷḷaṟka, uḷḷam ciṟukuva! koḷḷaṟka, allaṟkaṇ āṟṟaṟuppār naṭpu!.

1. Refrain from doing things which make your heart shrink. Likewise avoid friends

who desert you in adversity.

keṭum kālaik kaiviṭuvār kēṇmai, aṭum kālai uḷḷiṉum, uḷḷam cuṭum.
Friendship of those who fall off in adversity continues to rankle in your heart of hearts till your death.
maruvuka, mācu aṟṟār kēṇmai! oṉṟu īttum oruvuka, oppu ilār naṭpu!.
Count the friendship of the faultless and release yourself even at a price from friends not of approved conduct.

172

1. paḻ 81. paḻaimai -CHAPTER 81 CHAPTER 81 CHAPTER 81—ON OLD FRIENDSHIP ON OLD FRIENDSHIP ON OLD FRIENDSHIP

801 paḻaimai eṉappaṭuvatu yāteṉiṉ yātum kiḻamaiyaik kīḻttiṭā naṭpu.

1. What is old friendship? It is that which willingly submits to friendly interferences.

uṟuppuk keḻutakaimai maṟṟataṟku uppātal cāṉṟōr kaṭaṉ.

1. The soul of friendship is perfect freedom. To be of cheer in friendly interference

is the duty of the wise.

naṭpuevaṉ ceyyum keḻutakaimai ceytāṅku amaiyāk kaṭai.
What use is old friendship if one’s intimacy does not approve of one’s acts?

804 viḻaitakaiyāṉ vēṇṭi iruppar keḻutakaiyāl kēḷātu naṭṭār ceyiṉ.
804. If friends voluntarily do their duty through intimacy the wise accept it with approval.

805 pētaimai oṉṟō peruṅkiḻamai eṉṟuṇarka nōtakka naṭṭār ceyiṉ.
805. If a friend acts contrary to one’s wishes, treat it as not due to ignorance but to intimacy.

173 806 ellaikkaṇ niṉṟār tuṟavār tolaiviṭattum tollaikkaṇ niṉṟār toṭarpu.
806. Old friends may do harm but it is the quality of friendship not to abandon them.

807 aḻivanta ceyyiṉum aṉpaṟār aṉpiṉ vaḻivanta kēṇmai yavar.
807. Old and loving friends, even when betrayed do not break off in their love.

808 kēḷiḻukkam kēḷāk keḻutakaimai vallārkku nāḷiḻukka naṭṭār ceyiṉ.
808. Intimacy is the refusal to hear about friend’s faults. Noble friends smile that day when their friends commit faults.

809 keṭāa vaḻivanta kēṇmaiyār kēṇmai viṭāar viḻaiyum ulaku.
809. The world applauds long established friends who do not forsake one another.

810 viḻaiyār viḻaiyap paṭupa paḻaiyārkaṇ paṇpiṉ talaippiriyā tār.
810. Even foes long for those who do not forsake their old and erring friends.

1. tī naṭ 82. tī naṭpu -CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 82—ON BASE ALLIANCE ON BASE ALLIANCE ON BASE ALLIANCE

174 811 parukuvār pōliṉum paṇpilār kēṇmai perukalil kuṉṟal iṉitu.
811. Let that kind of friendship diminish rather than increase if it is really pretentious and devoid of genuine feeling.

812 uṟiṉnaṭṭu aṟiṉorūum oppilār kēṇmai peṟiṉum iḻappiṉum eṉ.
812. What does it matter whether we gain or lose the equal friendship of those who befriend if advantageous to them and betray if disadvantageous?

813 uṟuvatu cīrtūkkum naṭpum peṟuvatu koḷvārum kaḷvarum nēr.
813. Those who value friendship for the gain thereof are only avaricious prostitutes and thieves.

814 amarakattu āṟṟaṟukkum kallāmā aṉṉār tamariṉ taṉimai talai.
814. Better solitude than the alliance of the wicked who fail like the unbroken steed its rider in the battlefield.

815 ceytēmam cārāc ciṟiyavar puṉkēṇmai eytaliṉ eytāmai naṉṟu.
815. Better to abandon than contract the friendship of the lowly who do not aid you in adversity. 175

816 pētai peruṅkeḻīi naṭpiṉ aṟivuṭaiyār ētiṉmai kōṭi uṟum.

1. Very much more valuable is the hatred of the wise than the doting friendship of

fools.

817 nakaivakaiyar ākiya naṭpiṉ pakaivarāl pattaṭutta kōṭi uṟum.

1. Ten thousand times better is the enmity of foes than the friendship which makes

one a laughing stock.

818 olluṅ karumam uṭaṟṟu pavarkēṇmai collāṭār cōra viṭal.
818. Abandon without fuss friends who make a possible thing impossible.

819 kaṉaviṉum iṉṉātu maṉṉō viṉaivēṟu colvēṟu paṭṭār toṭarpu.
819. The alliances of men whose words are different from their deeds afford no pleasure even in a dream.

820 eṉaittum kuṟukutal ōmpal maṉaikkeḻīi maṉṟil paḻippār toṭarpu.
820. Avoid the friendship however little, of those who befriend you at home but betray you in the assembly (public). 176

1. kūṭ 83. kūṭā naṭpu -CHAPTER 83 CHAPTER 83 CHAPTER 83—ON FALSE ALLIANCE ON FALSE ALLIANCE ON FALSE ALLIANCE

821 cīrviṭam kāṇiṉ eṟitaṟkup paṭṭaṭai nērā nirantavar naṭpu.
821. Friendship of the wicked is but a pretext to stab you cunningly in an unwary mood.

822 iṉampōṉṟu iṉamallār kēṇmai makaḷir maṉampōla vēṟu paṭum.
822. Inconstant as the heart of a woman is the false friendship of seeming friends.

823 palanalla kaṟṟak kaṭaittum maṉanallar ākutal māṇārkku aritu.
823. A wicked heart never mellows with learning.

824 mukattiṉ iṉiya nakāa akattuiṉṉā vañcarai añcap paṭum.
824. Fear those who smile and smile but are villainy at heart.

825 maṉattiṉ amaiyā tavarai eṉaittoṉṟum colliṉāl tēṟaṟpāṟṟu aṉṟu.
825. It is impossible to convince those whose minds do not agree.

826 naṭṭārpōl nallavai colliṉum oṭṭārcol 177 ollai uṇarap paṭum.
826. Of what avail are the friendly words of your foe?

827 colvaṇakkam oṉṉārkaṇ koḷḷaṟka vilvaṇakkam tīṅku kuṟittamai yāṉ.

1. Do not trust the seeming humility of the enemy’s speech for the bow bends only

to do harm.

828 toḻutakai yuḷḷum paṭaiyoṭuṅkum oṉṉār aḻutakaṇ ṇīrum aṉaittu.
828. The folded hands of the enemy in an attitude of devotion conceal a weapon. Likewise are his false tears.

829 mikacceytu tammauḷu vārai nakacceytu naṭpiṉuḷ cāppullaṟ pāṟṟu.
829. Policy requires that hostility to a foe should be hidden under a smile.

830 pakainaṭpām kālam varuṅkāl mukanaṭṭu akanaṭpu orīi viṭal.
830. When the enemy pretends alliance, receive him with outward smile and inward distrust.

1. pētaimai - 84. pētaimai -CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 84—ON STUPIDITY ON STUPIDITY ON STUPIDITY

178 831 pētaimai eṉpatuoṉṟu yātueṉiṉ ētamkoṇṭu ūtiyam pōka viṭal.
831. Stupidity clings to the evil and lets slip the good.

832 pētaimaiyuḷ ellām pētaimai kātaṉmai kaiyalla taṉkaṇ ceyal.
832. The crown of stupidity is the desire to do evil.

833 nāṇāmai nāṭāmai nāriṉmai yātoṉṟum pēṇāmai pētai toḻil.
833. Shamelessness, negligence, arrogance and giddiness mark the stupid.

834 ōti uṇarntum piṟarkkuraittum tāṉaṭaṅkāp pētaiyiṉ pētaiyār il.

1. Most stupid is the learned fool who remains disloyal to his own noble teaching.

835 orumaic ceyalāṟṟum pētai eḻumaiyum tāṉpukku aḻuntum aḷaṟu.
835. Acts of folly done in one birth cause misery to him in seven more births to come.

836 poypaṭum oṉṟō puṉaipūṇum kaiyaṟiyāp pētai viṉaimēṟ koḷiṉ.
836. The task undertaken by a foolish man is spoiled and also ruined.

179 837 ētilār ārat tamarpacippar pētai peruñcelvam uṟṟak kaṭai.
837. Strangers and not relatives fatten on the unlimited wealth of a fool.

838 maiyal oruvaṉ kaḷittaṟṟāl pētaitaṉ kaiyoṉṟu uṭaimai peṟiṉ.
838. A fool that lives by a fortune is like a mad man in his drunken glee.

839 peritiṉitu pētaiyār kēṇmai piriviṉkaṇ pīḻai taruvatoṉṟu il.
839. Verily sweet are the uses of fools’ love. For nothing is lost in a separation.

840 kaḻāakkāl paḷḷiyuḷ vaittaṟṟāl cāṉṟōr kuḻāattup pētai pukal.
840. A fool’s entry into the assembly of the wise is like one’s unclean foot on the bed.

1. pullaṟ 85. pullaṟivāṇmai -CHAPTER 85 CHAPTER 85 CHAPTER 85—ON IGNORANCE ON IGNORANCE ON IGNORANCE

841 aṟiviṉmai iṉmaiyuḷ iṉmai piṟitiṉmai iṉmaiyā vaiyātu ulaku.
841. Of all forms of poverty, poverty of intellect is the most serious; other forms of poverty are not regarded serious by the world.

842 aṟivilāṉ neñcuvantu ītal piṟituyātum 180 illai peṟuvāṉ tavam.
842. If a fool makes a gift with pleasure, it is due to the recipient’s luck.

843 aṟivilār tāmtammaip pīḻikkum pīḻai ceṟuvārkkum ceytal aritu.
843. The unwise inflict upon themselves more harm than the enemies can think of.

844 veṇmai eṉappaṭuvatu yāteṉiṉ oṇmai uṭaiyamyām eṉṉum cerukku.
844. Where does conceit dwell but in the immature mind?

845 kallāta mēṟkoṇṭu oḻukal kacaṭaṟa vallatūum aiyam tarum.
845. Pretension to knowledge beyond one’s province makes men suspect the proficiency in one’s own province.

846 aṟṟam maṟaittalō pullaṟivu tamvayiṉ kuṟṟam maṟaiyā vaḻi.
846. What availeth one’s garment if one’s defects lie naked to the world?

847 arumaṟai cōrum aṟivilāṉ ceyyum perumiṟai tāṉē taṉakku.
847. A learned fool doth harm to himself.

181 848 ēvavuñam ceykalāṉ tāṉtēṟāṉ avvuyir pōom aḷavumōr nōy.
848. A fool neither listens to wise counsel nor exerts himself. He will be a plague to the world till his death.

849 kāṇātāṉ kāṭṭuvāṉ tāṉkāṇāṉ kāṇātāṉ kaṇṭāṉām tāṉkaṇṭa vāṟu.
849. He who seeks to enlighten a fool befools himself i For the conceited fool thinks that he knows everything.

850 ulakattār uṇṭeṉpatu illeṉpāṉ vaiyattu alakaiyā vaikkap paṭum.
850. He who is out of tune with the world is regarded a demon.

1. ikal - 86. ikal -CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 86—ON DISCORD ON DISCORD ON DISCORD

851 ikaleṉpa ellā uyirkkum pakaleṉṉum paṇpiṉmai pārikkum nōy.
851. Hatred is a foul disease that brings discord among men.

852 pakalkarutip paṟṟā ceyiṉum ikalkaruti iṉṉācey yāmai talai.
852. What if one does us harm out of hatred? It is the height of wisdom to resist not evil.

182 853 ikaleṉṉum evvanōy nīkkiṉ tavalillāt tāvil viḷakkam tarum.
853. He who is rid of the full disease of hatred crowns himself with eternal glory.

854 iṉpattuḷ iṉpam payakkum ikaleṉṉum tuṉpattuḷ tuṉpam keṭiṉ.
854. It is the joy of joys to bury hatred, the evil of all evils.

855 ikaletir cāyntoḻuka vallārai yārē mikalūkkum taṉmai yavar.
855. Can anyone overcome him who has conquered hatred?

856 ikaliṉ mikaliṉitu eṉpavaṉ vāḻkkai tavalum keṭalum naṇittu.
856. Swift ruin awaits one who delights in discord.

857 mikalmēvaval meypporuḷ kāṇār ikalmēval iṉṉā aṟivi ṉavar.
857. Those who nourish hatred will never see the triumphant light of truth.

858 ikaliṟku etircāytal ākkam ataṉai mikalūkkiṉ ūkkumām kēṭu. 183 858. To fight against hatred is to save one’s soul; to harbour it is to court one’s own ruin.

859 ikalkāṇāṉ ākkam varuṅkāl ataṉai mikalkāṇum kēṭu taraṟku.
859. Freedom from hatred is the sign of one’s prosperity. Presence of hatred foreshadows decline of one’s fortune.

860 ikalāṉām iṉṉāta ellām nakalāṉām naṉṉayam eṉṉum cerukku.
860. From love springs the proud joy of a righteous life.

–

1. pakai māṭ 87. pakai māṭci -CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 87—ON ENMITY ON ENMITY ON ENMITY

861 valiyārkku māṟēṟṟal ōmpuka ōmpā meliyārmēṉ mēka pakai.
861. Avoid hostility towards the powerful do not cease from hostility towards the weak.

862 aṉpilaṉ āṉṟa tuṇaiyilaṉ tāṉtuvvāṉ eṉpariyum ētilāṉ tuppu.
862. One devoid of love has neither the strength nor support. How can he stem the tide of the advancing foe?

863 añcum aṟiyāṉ amaivilaṉ īkalāṉ tañcam eḷiyaṉ pakaikku. 184 863. He who is cowardly, ignorant, restless and niggardly, falls an easy prey to his enemy.

864 nīṅkāṉ vekuḷi niṟaiyilaṉ eññāṉṟum yāṅkaṇum yārkkum eḷitu.
864. He who does not abstain from anger and has insufficient resources can be attacked by any one at any time.

865 vaḻinōkkāṉ vāyppaṉa ceyyāṉ paḻinōkkāṉ paṇpilaṉ paṟṟārkku iṉitu.
865. He who does not walk in the right path or follow the rule, who is callous to public odium falls an easy victim to his enemies.

866 kāṇāc ciṉattāṉ kaḻiperum kāmattāṉ pēṇāmai pēṇap paṭum.
866. One can court the enmity of the blindly wrathful and the inordinately lustful.

867 koṭuttum koḷalvēṇṭum maṉṟa aṭuttiruntu māṇāta ceyvāṉ pakai.
867. It is good to get the enmity of one who is blind to one’s purpose.

868 kuṇaṉilaṉāyk kuṟṟam palavāyiṉ māṟṟārkku iṉaṉilaṉām ēmāppu uṭaittu.
868. One who is void of virtue but full of vice invites the foe. 185

869 ceṟuvārkkuc cēṇikavā iṉpam aṟivilā añcum pakaivarp peṟiṉ.
869. The cowardly and the foolish gladden the heart of the foe beyond measure.

870 kallāṉ vekuḷum ciṟuporuḷ eññāṉṟum ollāṉai ollātu oḷi.
870. Glory awaits one who does not exploit the ignorant.

–

1. pakaittiṟ 88. pakaittiṟam terital am terital am terital -CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 88—ON KNOWING THE ENE ON KNOWING THE ENE ON KNOWING THE ENEMY’S STRENGTH MY’S STRENGTH MY’S STRENGTH

871 pakaiyeṉṉum paṇpi lataṉai oruvaṉ nakaiyēyum vēṇṭaṟpāṟṟu aṉṟu.
871. One should not desire, even in a sportive mood, the evil known as enmity.

872 villēr uḻavar pakaikoḷiṉum koḷḷaṟka collēr uḻavar pakai.
872. You may not fear the sword; but beware of the pen.

873 ēmuṟ ṟavariṉum ēḻai tamiyaṉāyp pallār pakaikoḷ pavaṉ.
873. One who incurs the wrath of the enemy is blinder than the mad.

186 874 pakainaṭpāk koṇṭoḻukum paṇpuṭai yāḷaṉ takaimaikkaṇ taṅkiṟṟu ulaku.
874. The world is under the sway of one who has the art of converting an enemy into a friend.

875 taṉtuṇai iṉṟāl pakaiyiraṇṭāl tāṉoruvaṉ iṉtuṇaiyāk koḷkavaṟṟiṉ oṉṟu.
875. One who has no ally but two adversaries must befriend one of them.

876 tēṟiṉum tēṟā viṭiṉum aḻiviṉkaṇ tēṟāṉ pakāaṉ viṭal.
876. In a dark hour assume a neutral attitude either to your known enemy or to an unknown foe.

877 nōvaṟka nontatu aṟiyārkku mēvaṟka meṉmai pakaivar akattu.
877. Whisper not your troubles to friends who cannot divine them; betray not your weakness to your enemy.

878 vakaiyaṟintu taṟceytu taṟkāppa māyum pakaivarkaṇ paṭṭa cerukku.
878. Plan well your design and arm yourself with all the sinews of war.

879 iḷaitāka muḷmaram kolka kaḷaiyunar 187 kaikollum kāḻtta iṭattu.
879. Nip the thorn in the bud lest it should hurt the hands of those who seek to cut it when hardened into a tree.

880 uyirppa uḷarallar maṉṟa ceyippavar cemmal citaikkalā tār.
880. He is one among the dead who fails to subdue his naughty foe.

1. uṭpakai -CHAPTER 89 CHAPTER 89 CHAPTER 89—INTERNAL FOES INTERNAL FOES INTERNAL FOES

881 niḻaṉīrum iṉṉāta iṉṉā tamarnīrum iṉṉāvām iṉṉā ceyiṉ.
881. Even shade and water, wholesome as they are, become pernicious where not needed; our kith and kin likewise are.

882 vāḷpōl pakaivarai añcaṟka añcuka kēḷpōl pakaivar toṭarpu.
882. Be not afraid of open enemies with drawn swords; but beware of false friends.

883 uṭpakai añcittaṟ kākka ulaiviṭattu maṭpakaiyiṉ māṇat teṟum.
883. Guard yourselves against your enemies from within. In your trying hour they will undermine your strength, like the potter’s knife, cleaving the mind asunder.

884 maṉammāṇā uṭpakai tōṉṟiṉ iṉammāṇā ētam palavum tarum. 188 884. The land is seething with dissensions when the foes from within, appear on the scene.

885 uṟaṉmuṟaiyāṉ uṭpakai tōṉṟiṉ iṟalmuṟaiyāṉ ētam palavum tarum.
885. Many evils dark as death befall a king, when his own kith and kin sow dissensions in the land.

886 oṉṟāmai oṉṟiyār kaṇpaṭiṉ eññāṉṟum poṉṟāmai oṉṟal aritu.
886. If kinsmen were to play to the traitor it would be difficult to escape death.

887 ceppiṉ puṇarccipōl kūṭiṉum kūṭātē uṭpakai uṟṟa kuṭi.
887. There will be no real union in a house divided. The apparent unity is like the appearance of the casket and the lid seen as one.

888 aramporuta poṉpōlat tēyum uramporutu uṭpakai uṟṟa kuṭi.
888. The family torn with internal dissensions dwindles in strength just like pure gold filed away by an iron file.

889 eṭpakavu aṉṉa ciṟumaittē āyiṉum uṭpakai uḷḷatām kēṭu. 189 889. Internal hostility little as it is, like a tiny seed, hides within a mighty evil.

890 uṭampāṭu ilātavar vāḻkkai kuṭaṅkaruḷ pāmpōṭu uṭaṉuṟain taṟṟu.

1. Dwelling among men of hidden hate is like dwelling in a hamlet which harbours

a snake.

–

1. periyāraip piḻaiyāmai - CHAPTER 90— NOT CENSURING THE GREAT

891 āṟṟuvār āṟṟal ikaḻāmai pōṟṟuvār pōṟṟaluḷ ellām talai.
891. Not to offend the mighty is the crowning means of shielding one self.

892 periyāraip pēṇātu oḻukiṉ periyārāl pērā iṭumpai tarum.
892. Lack of reverence for the great results in endless troubles.

893 keṭalvēṇṭiṉ kēḷātu ceyka aṭalvēṇṭiṉ āṟṟu pavarkaṇ iḻukku.
893. To pick a quarrel with the mighty is to court one’s own ruin.

894 kūṟṟattaik kaiyāl viḷittaṟṟāl āṟṟuvārkku āṟṟātār iṉṉā ceyal. 190 894. Behold the weak trying to do harm to the mighty. It is like beckoning unto death.

895 yāṇṭucceṉṟu yāṇṭum uḷarākār ventuppiṉ vēntu ceṟappaṭ ṭavar.

1. Where is the refuge for one who incurs the wrath of the mighty monarch?

896 eriyāl cuṭappaṭiṉum uyvuṇṭām uyyār periyārp piḻaittoḻuku vār.

1. There is just a chance of saving oneself if one gets caught in a fire; but there is

no hope for men who insult the great.

897 vakaimāṇṭa vāḻkkaiyum vāṉporuḷum eṉṉām takaimāṇṭa takkār ceṟiṉ.

1. What avails one’s proof of prosperity and mighty riches if one rouses the wrath

of the great.

898 kuṉṟaṉṉār kuṉṟa matippiṉ kuṭiyoṭu niṉṟaṉṉār māyvar nilattu.
898. The fury of the sages like the lofty hills destroys the great race of pure men of stable fortune.

899 ēntiya koḷkaiyār cīṟiṉ iṭaimurintu vēntaṉum vēntu keṭum. 191 899. Even the Lord of Heaven will be humbled from his throne if he rouses the wrath of men of mighty penance.

900 iṟantuamainta cārpuuṭaiyar āyiṉum uyyār ciṟantuamainta cīrār ceṟiṉ.
900. Even kings of ancient renown perish before the wrath of the great.

1. peṇ 91. peṇvaḻic cēṟal -CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 91—ON FOLLOWING WOMEN’S ADVICE ON FOLLOWING WOMEN’S ADVICE ON FOLLOWING WOMEN’S ADVICE

901 maṉaiviḻaivār māṇpayaṉ eytār viṉaiviḻaivār vēṇṭāp poruḷum atu.
901. To follow one’s wife’s advice is to lose one’s honour and fortune.

902 pēṇātu peṇviḻaivāṉ ākkam periyatōr nāṇāka nāṇut tarum.
902. The wealth of a henpecked husband is a mere mockery to him.

903 illāḷkaṇ tāḻnta iyalpiṉmai eññāṉṟum nallāruḷ nāṇut tarum.
903. The cowardice of one who submits to one’s wife makes one shrink from the company of the good.

904 maṉaiyāḷai añcum maṟumaiyi lāḷaṉ viṉaiyāṇmai vīṟeytal iṉṟu. 192 904. He who dreads his wife denies himself the joys of Heaven. Even his noble actions are held in scorn.

905 illāḷai yañcuvāṉ añcumaṟṟu eññāṉṟum nallārkku nalla ceyal.
905. He who fears his wife fails in his offices to the good and the virtuous.

906 imaiyāriṉ vāḻiṉum pāṭilarē illāḷ amaiyārtōḷ añcu pavar.

1. Those who are under the spell of their bamboo-shouldered bewitching wives

cease to be men even though they are like Gods on earth.

907 peṇṇēval ceytoḻukum āṇmaiyiṉ nāṇuṭaip peṇṇē perumai yuṭaittu.
907. More respectful is the bashfulness of a woman than the ignoble conduct of one who is a slave to one’s wife.

908 naṭṭār kuṟaimuṭiyār naṉṟāṟṟār naṉṉutalāḷ peṭṭāṅku oḻuku pavar.
908. An infatuated husband can never be a friend in need; nor can he hope to do virtuous deeds.

Pleasures of life are not for the henpecked husband.
909 aṟaviṉaiyum āṉṟa poruḷum piṟaviṉaiyum 193 peṇēval ceyvārkaṇ il.

910 eṇcērnta neñcattu iṭaṉuṭaiyārkku eññāṉṟum peṇcērntām pētaimai il.
910. Men of resolute will never commit the folly of slaving for women.

–

1. varaiviṉ 92. varaiviṉmakaḷir -CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 92—ON PUBLIC WOMEN ON PUBLIC WOMEN ON PUBLIC WOMEN

911 aṉpiṉ viḻaiyār poruḷviḻaiyum āytoṭiyār iṉcol iḻukkut tarum.
911. Honeyed words of public women who serve not for love but for money become gall and wormwood in the end.

912 payaṉtūkkip paṇpuraikkum paṇpuil makaḷir nayaṉtūkki naḷḷā viṭal.
912. Beware of public women sweet of tongue but greedy of gain.

913 poruṭpeṇṭir poymmai muyakkam iruṭṭaṟaiyil ētil piṇantaḻīi aṟṟu.
913. Embracing false women bent on gain is like embracing a strange corpse in a dark room.

914 poruṭporuḷār puṉṉalam tōyā aruṭporuḷ āyum aṟivi ṉavar. 194 914. Men seeking the light of grace turn away in scorn from the fleshy delights of prostitutes.

915 potunalattār puṉṉalam tōyār matinalattiṉ māṇṭa aṟivi ṉavar.
915. Men of great wisdom care not for the barren pleasures of women who sell themselves for hire.

916 tannalam pārippār tōyār takaicerukkip puṉṉalam pārippār tōḷ.
916. Men aspiring to fame do not long for the delights of women who sell themselves.

917 niṟaineñcam illavar tōyvar piṟaneñcil pēṇip puṇarpavar tōḷ.

1. Only men of unruly desires go in search of the shoulders of women who sell

themselves.

918 āyum aṟiviṉar allārkku aṇaṅkeṉpa māya makaḷir muyakku.

1. False women’s embraces which only the ignorant desire are like the possession

of evil spirits.

919 varaivilā māṇiḻaiyār meṉtōḷ puraiyilāp pūriyarkaḷ āḻum aḷaṟu. 195 919. The soft shoulders of women who deck themselves for attraction are the hell into which undiscerning fools sink.

920 irumaṉap peṇṭirum kaḷḷum kavaṟum tirunīkkap paṭṭār toṭarpu.
920. Double-tongued women, wine and dice are the allies of those abandoned by the goddess of fortune.

1. kaḷ 93. kaḷuṇṇāmai -CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 93—ON AVOIDING WINE ON AVOIDING WINE ON AVOIDING WINE

921 uṭkap paṭāar oḷiyiḻappar eññāṉṟum kaṭkātal koṇṭoḻuku vār.
921. He who is addicted to wine can never strike fear in the heart of his foe; nor can he retain his ancient splendour.

922 uṇṇaṟka kaḷḷai uṇiluṇka cāṉṟōrāl eṇṇap paṭavēṇṭā tār.
922. Do not drink wine, for a drunkard can never command the homage of the great.

923 īṉṟāḷ mukattēyum iṉṉātāl eṉmaṟṟuc cāṉṟōr mukattuk kaḷi.
923. Even an indulgent mother never puts up with a drunkard; will the virtuous ever tolerate him?

196 924 nāṇeṉṉum nallāḷ puṟamkoṭukkum kaḷḷeṉṉum pēṇāp peruṅkuṟṟat tārkku.
924. The good lady of modesty averts her face from him guilty of hateful drink.

925 kaiyaṟi yāmai uṭaittē poruḷkoṭuttu meyyaṟi yāmai koḷal.
925. To acquire forgetfulness at a price is indeed the fruit of past sin.

926 tuñciṉār cettāriṉ vēṟallar eññāṉṟum nañcuṇpār kaḷḷuṇ pavar.
926. To be asleep is to be dead. To drink wine is to drink poison.

927 uḷḷoṟṟi uḷḷūr nakappaṭuvar eññāṉṟum kaḷoṟṟik kaṇcāy pavar.
927. A drunkard who has lost his senses becomes an object of ridicule to his sober neighbours.

928 kaḷittaṟiyēṉ eṉpatu kaiviṭuka neñcattu oḷittatūum āṅkē mikum.

1. Let not a drunkard boast that he has not tasted wine; for that which is hidden

shows itself with greater force when drunk.

929 kaḷittāṉaik kāraṇam kāṭṭutal kīḻnīrk kuḷittāṉait tītturīi aṟṟu. 197

1. To reason a drunkard into his senses is like searching with a candle for one lost

in deep waters.

930 kaḷḷuṇṇāp pōḻtil kaḷittāṉaik kāṇuṅkāl uḷḷāṉkol uṇṭataṉ cōrvu.
930. If a drunkard in sober moments sees, another under the influence of wine, will he fail to realise his own state when drunk?

1. cūtu 94. cūtu -CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 94—ON GAMBLING ON GAMBLING ON GAMBLING

931 vēṇṭaṟka veṉṟiṭiṉum cūtiṉai veṉṟatūum tūṇṭiṟpoṉ mīṉviḻuṅki aṟṟu.
931. Do not desire to gamble even if you win; for your gain is like the bait to a fish.

932 oṉṟueyti nūṟuiḻakkum cūtarkkum uṇṭāṅkol naṉṟueyti vāḻvatōr āṟu.
932. Can gamblers who lose a hundred times before winning once ever dream of an upright life?

933 uruḷāyam ōvātu kūṟiṉ poruḷāyam pōoyp puṟamē paṭum.

1. If one continually plays with the rolling dice one’s riches desert one to enrich

one’s enemies.

198 934 ciṟumai palaceytu cīraḻikkum cūtiṉ vaṟumai taruvatuoṉṟu il.
934. Nothing brings on poverty more than gambling. It ruins one’s fame and is the mother of all evils.

935 kavaṟum kaḻakamum kaiyum tarukki ivaṟiyār illāki yār.
935. None but those who dream of dice and the gaming table will come to grief.

936 akaṭārār allal uḻapparcūtu eṉṉum mukaṭiyāl mūṭappaṭ ṭār.
936. Torments of poverty and hell befall one who is seized by the demon of gambling.

937 paḻakiya celvamum paṇpum keṭukkum kaḻakattuk kālai pukiṉ.
937. Ceaseless gambling destroys one’s ancestral wealth and fame.

938 poruḷkoṭuttup poymēṟ koḷīi aruḷkeṭuttu allal uḻappikkum cūtu.
938. Gambling destroys wealth, makes one play false, kills all virtues, and brings on distress.

199 939 uṭaicelvam ūṇoḷi kalviyeṉṟu aintum aṭaiyāvām āyam koḷiṉ.
939. A king whose hobby is gambling has neither raiment nor food, nor wealth nor renown nor learning.

940 iḻattoṟūum kātalikkum cūtēpōl tuṉpam uḻattoṟūum kātaṟṟu uyir.
940. In spite of all the ills of life we cling to it. In spite of all losses, a gambler clings to his dice.

1. maruntu - 95. maruntu -CHAPTER 95 CHAPTER 95 CHAPTER 95—ON MEDICINE ON MEDICINE ON MEDICINE

941 mikiṉum kuṟaiyiṉum nōyceyyum nūlōr vaḷimutalā eṇṇiya mūṉṟu.
941. Overfeeding and underfeeding upset the three humours and cause disease, says the physician.

942 marunteṉa vēṇṭāvām yākkaikku aruntiyatu aṟṟatu pōṟṟi uṇiṉ.
942. There is no need for medicine if one eats with appetite.

943 aṟṟāl aḷavaṟintu uṇka aḵtuuṭampu peṟṟāṉ neṭituykkum āṟu.
943. Let there be measure and moderation in eating. It leads to long life.

200 944 aṟṟatu aṟintu kaṭaippiṭittu māṟalla tuykka tuvarap pacittu.
944. Eat wholesome food when you feel hungry.

945 māṟupāṭu illāta uṇṭi maṟuttuṇṇiṉ ūṟupāṭu illai uyirkku.

1. No disease attacks the person who eats with moderation the food which agrees

with him.

946 iḻivaṟintu uṇpāṉkaṇ iṉpampōl niṟkum kaḻipēr iraiyāṉkaṇ nōy.
946. Health dwells in a man of temperance, disease invades a glutton.

947 tīyaḷavu aṉṟit teriyāṉ perituṇṇiṉ nōyaḷavu iṉṟip paṭum.
947. Countless are the ills that befall a glutton.

948 nōynāṭi nōymutal nāṭi atutaṇikkum vāynāṭi vāyppac ceyal.
948. Diagnose the disease, find out its cure after tracing its root and apply the proper remedy.

949 uṟṟāṉ aḷavum piṇiaḷavum kālamum 201 kaṟṟāṉ karutic ceyal.
949. Let the learned physician know the nature of the patient and the duration of ailment and then treat.

950 uṟṟavaṉ tīrppāṉ maruntuuḻaic celvāṉeṉṟu appālnāṟ kūṟṟē maruntu.
950. The science of medicine deals with the patient, the physician, the medicine and the recipe.

End of angaviyal End of angaviyal

SECTION— SECTION—III: THE RESIDUE III: THE RESIDUE III: THE RESIDUE

1. kuṭ 96. kuṭimai -CHAPTER 96 CHAPTER 96 CHAPTER 96—ON NOBLE LINEAGE ON NOBLE LINEAGE ON NOBLE LINEAGE

951 ilpiṟantār kaṇallatu illai iyalpākac ceppamum nāṇum oruṅku.
951. Probity and a sense of shame are virtues innate only in men of noble lineage.

952 oḻukkamum vāymaiyum nāṇumim mūṉṟum iḻukkār kuṭippiṟan tār.
952. Men of noble descent never forsake good conduct, truthfulness and modesty.

953 nakaiīkai iṉcol ikaḻāmai nāṉkum vakaieṉpa vāymaik kuṭikku.

1. A cheerful countenance, charity, soft words and sweet learning all these

characterise men of noble birth. 202

954 aṭukkiya kōṭi peṟiṉum kuṭippiṟantār kuṉṟuva ceytal ilar.
954. Men of noble birth never stoop to mean acts, though they may thereby gain untold riches.

955 vaḻaṅkuvatu uḷvīḻntak kaṇṇum paḻaṅkuṭi paṇpiṉ talaippirital iṉṟu.

1. A family of ancient dignity never fails of its charity even when fallen on evil days.

956 calampaṟṟic cārpila ceyyārmā caṟṟa kulampaṟṟi vāḻtumeṉ pār.
956. Those who walk in the untarnished traditions of their noble family never do wrong even in poverty.

957 kuṭippiṟantār kaṇviḷaṅkum kuṟṟam vicumpiṉ matikkaṇ maṟuppōl uyarntu.
957. Dark as the spot of the Moon in the sky doth the stain of the noble family loom large.

958 nalattiṉkaṇ nāriṉmai tōṉṟiṉ avaṉaik kulattiṉkaṇ aiyap paṭum.
958. The world suspects the noble lineage of one who lacks in sympathy.

203 959 nilattil kiṭantamai kālkāṭṭum kāṭṭum kulattil piṟantārvāyc col.
959. The plants are quite racy of the soil. The words of men of high birth betoken their ancestral dignity.

960 nalamvēṇṭiṉ nāṇuṭaimai vēṇṭum kulamvēṇṭiṉ vēṇṭuka yārkkum paṇivu.
960. Out of modesty springs one’s greatness. Out of humility rises the honour of family.

1. māṉ 97. māṉam -CHAPTER 97 CHAPTER 97 CHAPTER 97—ON HONOUR ON HONOUR ON HONOUR

961 iṉṟi amaiyāc ciṟappiṉ āyiṉum kuṉṟa varupa viṭal.
961. Reject mean actions, even if they bring glory in their turn.

962 cīriṉum cīralla ceyyārē cīroṭu pērāṇmai vēṇṭu pavar.
962. Those who desire honour and name will not do mean things in their thirst for glory.

963 perukkattu vēṇṭum paṇital ciṟiya curukkattu vēṇṭum uyarvu.
963. During prosperity practise humility. Even in adversity keep dignity. 204

964 talaiyiṉ iḻinta mayiraṉaiyar māntar nilaiyiṉ iḻintak kaṭai.
964. Men fallen from a high estate are like the hair fallen from the head.

965 kuṉṟiṉ aṉaiyārum kuṉṟuvar kuṉṟuva kuṉṟi aṉaiya ceyiṉ.
965. Even a trivial mean act will drag down a man from the hill top of his eminence.

966 pukaḻiṉṟāl puttēḷnāṭṭu uyyātāl eṉmaṟṟu ikaḻvārpiṉ ceṉṟu nilai.
966. Of what use is servility to one who despises you? It brings neither fame nor does it show the path to heaven.

967 oṭṭārpiṉ ceṉṟoruvaṉ vāḻtaliṉ annilaiyē keṭṭāṉ eṉappaṭutal nṉṟu.
967. Better to die in poverty than to be servile to one that scorns you.

968 maruntōmaṟṟu ūṉōmpum vāḻkkai peruntakaimai pīṭu aḻiyavanta iṭattu 968. When one’s honour is ruined, will the life that sustains the body confer immortality?

205 969 mayirnīppiṉ vāḻāk kavarimā aṉṉār uyirnīppar māṉam variṉ.
969. He whose honour is at stake lays down his life like the Yak that is shorn of its single hair.

970 iḷivariṉ vāḻāta māṉam uṭaiyār oḷitoḻutu ēttum ulaku 970. The world sings in praise of those noble persons who prefer death to dishonour.

1. perumai - 98. perumai -CHAPTER 98 CHAPTER 98 CHAPTER 98—ON GREATNESS ON GREATNESS ON GREATNESS

971 oḷioruvaṟku uḷḷa veṟukkai iḷioruvaṟku aḵtuiṟantu vāḻtum eṉal.

1. The glory of life is to achieve greatness. The poverty of life is to be lost to all

glory.

972 piṟappuokkum ellā uyirkkum ciṟappuovvā ceytoḻil vēṟṟumai yāṉ.
972. It is not birth but deeds that mark men.

973 mēliruntum mēlallār mēlallar kīḻiruntum kīḻallār kīḻal lavar.
973. One is not great because of one’s birth in a noble family; one is not low because of one’s low birth.

206 974 orumai makaḷirē pōlap perumaiyum taṉṉaittāṉ koṇṭuoḻukiṉ uṇṭu.
974. Greatness springs from one’s own good conduct preserved like the sacred honour of a woman.

975 perumai uṭaiyavar āṟṟuvār āṟṟiṉ arumai uṭaiya ceyal.

1. Greatness achieves things difficult for others.

976 ciṟiyār uṇarcciyuḷ illai periyāraip pēṇikkoḷ vēmeṉṉum nōkku.
976. Littleness feels no reverence for the great.

977 iṟappōr irunta toḻiṟṟām ciṟappuntāṉ cīral lavarkaṇ paṭiṉ.
977. Littleness is proud of its virtues.

978 paṇiyumām eṉṟum perumai ciṟumai aṇiyumām taṉṉai viyantu.
978. Greatness is all humility; littleness is all arrogance.

979 perumai perumitam iṉmai ciṟumai perumitam ūrntu viṭal. 207 979. Greatness is not conscious of its worth. Littleness is rooted in pride.

980 aṟṟam maṟaikkum perumai ciṟumaitāṉ kuṟṟamē kūṟi viṭum.
980. Greatness hides the faults of others; littleness trumpets their faults alone.

1. cāṉṟ 99. cāṉṟāṇmai -CHAPTER 99 CHAPTER 99 CHAPTER 99—ON GOOD CONDUCT ON GOOD CONDUCT ON GOOD CONDUCT

981 kaṭaṉeṉpa nallavai ellām kaṭaṉaṟintu cāṉṟāṇmai mēṟkoḷ pavarkku.
981. All virtues dwell in one who is alive to one’s nobility of conduct.

982 kuṇanalam cāṉṟōr nalaṉē piṟanalam ennalattu uḷḷatūam aṉṟu.
982. Good conduct is the virtue of the great; all other things are but dross.

983 aṉpunāṇ oppuravu kaṇṇōṭṭam vāymaiyoṭu aintucālpu ūṉṟiya tūṇ.
983. Love, modesty, impartiality, sympathy and truthfulness are the five pillars of nobility.

984 kollā nalattatu nōṉmai piṟartīmai collā nalattatu cālpu.
984. Penance kills not, nobility slanders not.

208 985 āṟṟuvār āṟṟal paṇital atucāṉṟōr māṟṟārai māṟṟum paṭai.
985. Humility is the strength of the great. It is the weapon that disarms the foe.

986 cālpiṟkuk kaṭṭaḷai yāteṉiṉ tōlvi tulaiyallār kaṇṇum koḷal.

1. The touchstone of nobility is to accept defeat even at the hands of inferiors.

987 iṉṉācey tārkkum iṉiyavē ceyyākkāl eṉṉa payattatō cālpu.
987. What profits one’s nobility if good is not done even to those who do harm?

988 iṉmai oruvaṟku iḷivaṉṟu cālpeṉṉum tiṇmaiuṇ ṭākap peṟiṉ.
988. Poverty is no disgrace to one of enduring nobility.

989 ūḻi peyariṉum tāmpeyarār cāṉṟāṇmaikku āḻi eṉappaṭu vār.
989. The sea may recede but noble men will remain steadfast.

990 cāṉṟavar cāṉṟāṇmai kuṉṟiṉ irunilantāṉ tāṅkātu maṉṉō poṟai.
990. Were the nobility of the noble to shrink, the vast firm earth would totter. 209

1. paṇ 100. paṇpu uṭaimai -CHAPTER 100 CHAPTER 100 CHAPTER 100—ON COURTESY ON COURTESY ON COURTESY

991 eṇpatattāl eytal eḷiteṉpa yārmāṭṭum paṇpuṭaimai eṉṉum vaḻakku.
991. Be cautious and easy of access. You will command the homage of the world.

992 aṉpuṭaimai āṉṟa kuṭippiṟattal ivviraṇṭum paṇpuṭaimai eṉṉum vaḻakku.
992. Courtesy springs from love and noble lineage.

993 uṟuppottal makkaḷoppu aṉṟāl veṟuttakka paṇpottal oppatām oppu.
993. Mere physical features do not rank with men but only courtesy makes them ascend the scale.

994 nayaṉoṭu naṉṟi purinta payaṉuṭaiyār paṇpupā rāṭṭum ulaku.
994. The world respects the courtesy of those who are just and willing to do good.

995 nakaiyuḷḷum iṉṉātu ikaḻcci pakaiyuḷḷum paṇpuḷa pāṭaṟivār māṭṭu.
995. Do not mock at others even in a sportive mood. There is virtue in being courteous even to a foe. 210

996 paṇpuṭaiyārp paṭṭuṇṭu ulakam atuiṉṟēl maṇpukku māyvatu maṉ.
996. The world is built on the wisdom of the noble and the good; but for them the entire world would be a heap of ruins.

997 arampōlum kūrmaiya rēṉum marampōlvar makkaḷpaṇpu illā tavar.

1. Of what avail is one’s intelligence keen as the edge of the chist^? One is with

the socks and gloves if one is not affable.

998 naṇpāṟṟār āki nayamila ceyvārkkum paṇpāṟṟār ātal kaṭai.
998. To be failing in one’s courtesy even to one’s foe is sin.

999 nakalvallar allārkku māyiru ñālam pakalumpāṟ paṭṭaṉṟ iruḷ.
999. Even the wide world darkens at noon to the sullen who fails to gladden the hearts of men.

1000 paṇpilāṉ peṟṟa peruñcelvam naṉpāl kalantīmai yāltirintu aṟṟu.
1000. Of what’ use is the wealth of the discourteous? It is like good milk spoilt by an unclean vessel. 211

1. naṉṟ 101. naṉṟiyil celvam iyil celvam iyil celvam -CHAPTER 101 CHAPTER 101 CHAPTER 101—ON UNPROFITABLE WEALTH ON UNPROFITABLE WEALTH ON UNPROFITABLE WEALTH

1001 vaittāṉvāy cāṉṟa perumporuL aḵtuṇṇāṉ cettāṉ ceyakkiṭantatu il.
1001. He who does not make use of his hoarded wealth is really dead, though aliye; for he cannot do anything great.

1002 poruḷāṉām ellāmeṉṟu īyātu ivaṟum maruḷāṉām māṇāp piṟappu.
1002. The birth of a ghost awaits a miser who thinks he gains everything by hoarding wealth.

1003 īṭṭam ivaṟi icaivēṇṭā vāṭavar tōṟṟam nilakkup poṟai.
1003. He who prefers mere accumulation of wealth to glory is a burden unto the earth.

1004 eccameṉṟu eṉeṇṇum kollō oruvarāl naccap paṭāa tavaṉ.
1004. What awaits one if one cannot win the affections of others?

1005 koṭuppatūum tuyppatūum illārkku aṭukkiya kōṭiuṇ ṭāyiṉum il.
1005. Of what avail is the untold wealth of one who neither gives nor enjoys it? 212

1006 ētam peruñcelvam tāṉtuvvāṉ takkārkkuoṉṟu ītal iliyalpilā tāṉ.
1006. Abundance of wealth is not a blessing but a curse to one who can neither enjoy it nor spend it on the deserving.

1007 aṟṟārkkoṉṟu āṟṟātāṉ celvam mikanalam peṟṟāṉ tamiyaḷmūt taṟṟu.

1. The wealth that is not spent on the needy is as barren as the withering charm

of a spinster.

1008 naccap paṭātavaṉ celvam naṭuvūruḷ naccu marampaḻut taṟṟu.
1008. The wealth of a miser is like the fruit of a poison-tree in the heart of a village.

1009 aṉporīit taṉceṟṟu aṟamnōkkātu īṭṭiya oṇporuḷ koḷvār piṟar.
1009. Strangers inherit the great wealth of a miser who neither enjoys it nor gives.

1010 cīruṭaic celvar ciṟutuṉi māri vaṟaṅkūrn taṉaiyatu uṭaittu.

1. The short-lived poverty of the generous rich is the drought of rain-laden clouds.

– 213

1. nāṇ 102. nāṇuṭaimai -CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER 102—ON MODESTY ON MODESTY ON MODESTY

1011 karumattāl nāṇutal nāṇut tirunutal nallavar nāṇup piṟa.
1011. True modesty shrinks from littleness. All other forms of modesty are womanish.

1012 ūṇuṭai eccam uyirkkellām vēṟalla nāṇuṭaimai māntar ciṟappu.
1012. Common to all human beings are food and clothing and other necessaries of life. But what distinguishes them is modesty.

1013 ūṉaik kuṟitta uyirellām nāṇeṉṉum naṉmai kuṟittatu cālpu.
1013. Man clings to his body. The noble clings to modesty.

1014 aṇiyaṉṟō nāṇuṭaimai cāṉṟōrkku aḵtiṉṟēl piṇiyaṉṟō pīṭu naṭai.
1014. Disgraceful is the painted pomp of the life of the immodest.

1015 piṟarpaḻiyum tampaḻipōl nāṇuvār nāṇukku uṟaipati eṉṉum ulaku.
1015. The world finds the very abode of modesty in one who dreads one’s infamy and that of others.

214 1016 nāṇvēli koḷḷātu maṉṉō viyaṉñālam pēṇalar mēlā yavar.

1. The great prefer modesty to the riches of the world.

1017 nāṇāl uyirait tuṟappar uyirpporuṭṭāl nāṇtuṟavār nāṇāḷ pavar.
1017. Better retain modesty than cling to life. The noble would rather die than lose modesty.

1018 piṟarnāṇat takkatu tāṉnāṇāṉ āyiṉ aṟamnāṇat takkatu uṭaittu.
1018. One who does not shrink from what others blush at knows no righteousness.

1019 kulañcuṭum koḷkai piḻaippiṉ nalañcuṭum nāṇiṉmai niṉṟak kaṭai.
1019. Lack of decorum disgraces a home; lack of modesty destroys everything good.

1020 nāṇakattu illār iyakkam marappāvai nāṇāl uyirmaruṭṭi aṟṟu.
1020. The activity of those lacking in modesty is like that of a marionette.

–

1. kuṭ 103. kuṭi ceyalvakai i ceyalvakai i ceyalvakai -CHAPTER 103 CHAPTER 103 CHAPTER 103—ON EXALTING ONE’S FAMILY ON EXALTING ONE’S FAMILY ON EXALTING ONE’S FAMILY

1021 karumam ceyaoruvaṉ kaitūvēṉ eṉṉum 215 perumaiyiṉ pīṭuuṭaiyatu il.
1021. Nothing is more exalted and manly than one’s ceaseless toil to uplift one’s own family.

1022 āḷviṉaiyum āṉṟa aṟivum eṉa_iraṇṭiṉ nīḷviṉaiyāl nīḷum kuṭi.
1022. Manly effort and ripe wisdom exalt one’s family.

1023 kuṭiceyval eṉṉum oruvaṟkut teyvam maṭitaṟṟut tāṉmun tuṟum.
1023. Even God girds up His loins in the service of one who strives for the glory of one’s family.

1024 cūḻāmal tāṉē muṭiveytum taṅkuṭiyait tāḻātu uñaṟṟu pavarkku.
1024. Success comes unbidden to one who exalts one’s family with unremitting toil.

1025 kuṟṟam ilaṉāyk kuṭiceytu vāḻvāṉaic cuṟṟamāc cuṟṟum ulaku.
1025. The world becomes kin to one who leads an unblemished householder’s life.

1026 nallāṇmai eṉpatu oruvaṟkut tāṉpiṟanta illāṇmai ākkik koḷal.
1026. What is true manliness except perfect ordering of the house for its own glory? 216

1027 amarakattu vaṉkaṇṇar pōlat tamarakattu āṟṟuvār mēṟṟē poṟai.
1027. The brunt of the battle falls on the victorious; the burden of the family on the competent few.

1028 kuṭiceyvārkku illai paruvam maṭiceytu māṉam karutak keṭum.
1028. To pure householders there is no cessation of work. One’s false prestige leads to the ruin of one’s family.

1029 iṭumpaikkē koḷkalam kollō kuṭumpattaik kuṟṟam maṟaippāṉ uṭampu.
1029. Is he who protects his family from the ills of life a mere vessel of suffering?

1030 iṭukkaṇkāl koṉṟiṭa vīḻum aṭuttūṉṟum nallāḷ ilāta kuṭi.

1. The axe of adversity falls on the family which has no noble son to shield it.
1. uḻ 104. uḻavu -CHAPTER 104 CHAPTER 104 CHAPTER 104—ON AGRICULTURE ON AGRICULTURE ON AGRICULTURE

1031 cuḻaṉṟumērp piṉṉatu ulakam ataṉāl uḻaṉṟum uḻavē talai.

1. After vain wanderings in search of callings the world returned to the plough.

217

1032 uḻuvār ulakattārkku āṇiaḵtu āṟṟātu eḻuvārai ellām poṟuttu.

1. Husbandmen are the sheet-anchor of the world for on them depend lives of

others.

1033 uḻutuṇṭu vāḻvārē vāḻvārmaṟṟu ellām toḻutuṇṭu piṉcel pavar.
1033. Only the husbandmen live; all others subsist on their toil.

1034 palakuṭai nīḻalum tamkuṭaikkīḻk kāṇpar alakuṭai nīḻa lavar.
1034. It is the husbandmen that bring the might of the kings under the sway of their own sovereign.

1035 iravār irappārkkoṉṟu īvar karavātu kaiceytūṇ mālai yavar.
1035. A toiling peasant never begs but gives.

1036 uḻaviṉār kaimmaṭaṅkiṉ illai viḻaivatūum viṭṭēmeṉ pārkkum nilai.

1. Even the anchorite ceases from penance if husbandmen sit with their hands

folded.

218 1037 toṭippuḻuti kaḵcā uṇakkiṉ piṭitteruvum vēṇṭātu cālap paṭum.
1037. Let the land be allowed to dry with dust. Even a handful of manure is not needed for a good harvest.

1038 ēriṉum naṉṟāl eruiṭutal kaṭṭapiṉ nīriṉum naṉṟataṉ kāppu.
1038. After weeding, let the land be guarded, for more important than water is the protection of crops.

1039 cellāṉ kiḻavaṉ iruppiṉ nilampulantu illāḷiṉ ūṭi viṭum.
1039. The land neglected by its owner puts on the appearance of a sulky woman abandoned by her lord.

1040 ilameṉṟu acaii ippāraik kāṇiṉ nilameṉṉum nallāḷ nakum.
1040. Mother earth laughs in scorn at those who plead poverty

1. nalkuravu - 105. nalkuravu -CHAPTER 105 CHAPTER 105 CHAPTER 105—ON POVERTY ON POVERTY ON POVERTY

1041 iṉmaiyiṉ iṉṉātatu yāteṉiṉ iṉmaiyiṉ iṉmaiyē iṉṉā tatu.
1041. There is no greater evil than poverty! 219

1042 iṉmai eṉaoru pāvi maṟumaiyum immaiyum iṉṟi varum.

1. Poverty is an evil which blasts at once the joys of earth and of heaven.

1043 tolvaravum tōlum keṭukkum tokaiyāka nalkuravu eṉṉum nacai.

1. Poverty which springs of avarice ruins one’s ancestry and its fair name.

1044 iṟpiṟantār kaṇṇēyum iṉmai iḷivanta colpiṟakkum cōrvu tarum.
1044. Dejection due to poverty makes the noble utter the language of the base.

1045 nalkuravu eṉṉum iṭumpaiyuḷ palkurait tuṉpaṅkaḷ ceṉṟu paṭum.
1045. Poverty in itself an evil is the mother of all ills.

1046 naṟporuḷ naṉkuṇarntu colliṉum nalkūrntār coṟporuḷ cōrvu paṭum.
1046 The words of the poor, though born of experience and wisdom are not listened to.

1047 aṟañcārā nalkuravu īṉṟatā yāṉum 220 piṟaṉpōla nōkkap paṭum.
1047. Even a mother turns her back on one whose poverty is devoid of probity.

1048 iṉṟum varuvatu kollō nerunalum koṉṟatu pōlum nirappu.
1048. Oh, how I dread it I Will that beggary that almost killed me yesterday assail me today also?

1049 neruppiṉuḷ tuñcalum ākum nirappiṉuḷ yātoṉṟum kaṇpāṭu aritu.

1. One may sleep in the midst of scorching fire. But the poverty-stricken know no

sleep.

1050 tuppuravu illār tuvarat tuṟavāmai uppiṟkum kāṭikkum kūṟṟu.
1050. The indigent that do not renounce the world batten on other man’s salt and porridge.

1. iravu - 106. iravu -CHAPTER 106 CHAPTER 106 CHAPTER 106—ON BEGGING ON BEGGING ON BEGGING

1051 irakka irattakkārk kāṇiṉ karappiṉ avarpaḻi tampaḻi aṉṟu.
1051. Beg if you meet people who can give. If they refuse, it is their fault, not yours.

221 1052 iṉpam oruvaṟku irattal irantavai tuṉpam uṟāa variṉ.

1. Begging would be pleasant to one if one were to achieve one’s object without

causing pain.

1053 karappilā neñciṉ kaṭaṉaṟivār muṉniṉṟu irappumōr ēr uṭaittu.
1053. There is a grace even in begging of one noble and generous of heart.

1054 irattalum ītalē pōlum karattal kaṉavilum tēṟṟātār māṭṭu.
1054. Begging is endowed with all the grace of giving when the noble guest does not fail of his gifts even in dreams.

1055 karappilār vaiyakattu uṇmaiyāṉ kaṇṇiṉṟu irappavar mēṟkoḷ vatu.

1. There is beggary because of persons touched by its very presence.

1056 karappiṭumpai illāraik kāṇiṉ nirappiṭumpai ellām oruṅku keṭum.
1056. All the indignities of begging vanish in the presence of the truly generous who know not the sin of withholding gifts.

1057 ikaḻntueḷḷātu īvāraik kāṇiṉ makiḻntuḷḷam 222 uḷḷuḷ uvappatu uṭaittu.
1057. Mendicancy inwardly rejoices in the bounty of the generous free of scorn.

1058 irappārai illāyiṉ īrṅkaṇmā ñālam marappāvai ceṉṟuvan taṟṟu.
1058. Were there to be no mendicancy the vast world would be peopled with men moving like dolls.

1059 īvārkaṇ eṉṉuṇṭām tōṟṟam irantukōḷ mēvāril ilāak kaṭai.
1059. If there be no beggars in the world, will there be any glory for the bountiful?

1060 irappāṉ vekuḷāmai vēṇṭum nirappiṭumpai tāṉēyum cālum kari.

1. Do not chafe against the hunks for inevitable is the pain of poverty.
1. iravu accam - 107. iravu accam -CHAPTER 107 CHAPTER 107 CHAPTER 107—ON FEAR OF BEGGING ON FEAR OF BEGGING ON FEAR OF BEGGING

1061 karavātu uvantīyum kaṇṇaṉṉār kaṇṇum iravāmai kōṭi uṟum.
1061. A million times blessed is he who refrains from begging even from the generous delighting in charity.

1062 irantum uyirvāḻtal vēṇṭiṉ parantu 223 keṭuka ulakiyaṟṟi yāṉ.
1062. May the creator of the world perish if he has ordained life only through mendicancy?

1063 iṉmai iṭumpai irantutīr vāmeṉṉum vaṉmaiyiṉ vaṉpāṭṭatu il.
1063. There is no greater folly than the thought of wiping out poverty by beggary.

1064 iṭamellām koḷḷāt takaittē iṭamillāk kālum iravollāc cālpu.
1064. The greatness of refusing to beg even in adversity transcends the glory of the world.

1065 teṇṇīr aṭupuṟkai āyiṉum tāḷtantatu uṇṇaliṉ ūṅkuiṉiyatu il.
1065. Nothing is sweeter than the thin porridge earned by the sweat of one’s brow.

1066 āviṟku nīreṉṟu irappiṉum nāviṟku iraviṉ iḷivantatu il.
1066. It is a heinous sin to beg for water even for a cow crying of thirst.

1067 irappaṉ irappārai ellām irappiṉ karappār iravaṉmiṉ eṉṟu.
1067. I implore beggars not to beg of people who hide their wealth. 224

1068 iravueṉṉum ēmāppil tōṇi karavueṉṉum pārtākkap pakku viṭum.
1068. The unavailing canoe of begging gets wrecked on the rock of refusal.

1069 iravuḷḷa uḷḷam urukum karavuḷḷa uḷḷatūum iṉṟik keṭum.
1069. The mere thought of begging melts one’s heart. It breaks at one’s denial.

1070 karappavarkku yāṅkoḷikkum kollō irappavar collāṭap pōom uyir.
1070. A rebuff takes the life out of the beggar. But can the deceitful escape death?

1. kayamai - 108. kayamai -CHAPTER 108 CHAPTER 108 CHAPTER 108—ON MEANNESS ON MEANNESS ON MEANNESS

1071 makkaḷē pōlvar kayavar avaraṉṉa oppāri yāmkaṇṭatu il.

1. Ignoble men are only touched with human shapes. Rare indeed are such

specimens.

1072 naṉṟaṟi vāriṉ kayavar tiruvuṭaiyār neñcattu avalam ilar.
1072. Blessed are the base who are ignorant of the good. Verily they are never ill at ease. 225

1073 tēvar aṉaiyar kayavar avarumtām mēvaṉa ceytuoḻuka lāṉ.
1073. Mean men resemble unruly gods, for they know no law.

1074 akappaṭṭi āvāraik kāṇiṉ avariṉ mikappaṭṭuc cemmākkum kīḻ.
1074. The mean fought their superiority among men baser than them.

1075 accamē kīḻkaḷatu ācāram eccam avāvuṇṭēl uṇṭām ciṟitu.
1075. Fear and desire rule the conduct of the base.

1076 aṟaipaṟai aṉṉar kayavartām kēṭṭa maṟaipiṟarkku uytturaikka lāṉ.
1076. The base are like the drum for they noise abroad the secrets of men.

1077 īrṅkai vitirār kayavar koṭiṟuṭaikkum kūṉkaiyar allā tavarkku.

1. The base part with their crumbs only to a clenched hand.

1078 collap payaṉpaṭuvar cāṉṟōr karumpupōl kollap payaṉpaṭum kīḻ. 226

1. Even the least cry of distress touches the heart of the good; but squeezing

goodness out of the vile is like crushing the sugar-cane.

1079 uṭuppatūum uṇpatūum kāṇiṉ piṟarmēl vaṭukkāṇa vaṟṟākum kīḻ.
1079. The base envy others in their food and clothing and slander them.

1080 eṟṟiṟku uriyar kayavaroṉṟu uṟṟakkāl viṟṟaṟku uriyar viraintu.
1080. What are the base men fit for? They hasten only to sell themselves in adversity.

End of porutpal End of porutpal

– Part III: KĀMATTUPPĀL Part III: KĀMATTUPPĀL SECTION I. THE SECRET UNION SECTION I. THE SECRET UNION SECTION I. THE SECRET UNION

1. takai aṇ 109. takai aṇaṅku uṟuttal -CHAPTER 109 CHAPTER 109 CHAPTER 109—ON LOVER’S DISTRACTION ON LOVER’S DISTRACTION ON LOVER’S DISTRACTION

1081 aṇaṅkukol āymayil kollō kaṉaṅkuḻai mātarkol mālumeṉ neñcu.
1081. Is this a goddess fair? Or is it a rare peacock? Or, is it a mortal with heavy earrings? My mind is perplexed in the extreme.

1082 nōkkiṉāḷ nōkketir nōkkutal tākkaṇaṅku tāṉaikkoṇ ṭaṉṉatu uṭaittu. 227 1082. The glance she returns for mine resembles that of a terrible goddess leading an army.

1083 paṇṭaṟiyēṉ kūṟṟueṉ pataṉai iṉiyaṟintēṉ peṇṭakaiyāl pēramark kaṭṭu.
1083. The god of death I never knew. Now I behold him in the shape of this woman with battling eyes.

1084 kaṇṭār uyiruṇṇum tōṟṟattāl peṇtakaip pētaikku amarttaṉa kaṇ.
1084. The cruel eyes of this woman seem to devour the lives of those on whom they fall.

1085 kūṟṟamō kaṇṇō piṇaiyō maṭavaral nōkkamim mūṉṟum uṭaittu.

1. Oh, how the death-dealing antelope-eyes of the lady charm and puzzle me!

1086 koṭumpuruvam kōṭā maṟaippiṉ naṭuṅkañar ceyyala maṉivaḷ kaṇ.
1086. Her cruel eyes, had they not been shaded by her brows, would have made me quail and shudder.

1087 kaṭāak kaḷiṟṟiṉmēl kaṭpaṭām mātar paṭāa mulaimēl tukil. 228 1087. The garment over the ample swell of her bosom is like the cloth on the face of a wild elephant.

1088 oṇṇutaṟ kōo uṭaintatē ñāṭpiṉuḷ naṇṇārum uṭkumeṉ pīṭu.

1. My might which has struck terror in the heart of the foe who has only heard of

my prowess lies overthrown before her splendid face.

1089 piṇaiyēr maṭanōkkum nāṇum uṭaiyāṭku aṇiyavaṉō ētila tantu.
1089. What need of ornament has this lady of modesty, adorned with the glances of an antelope?

1090 uṇṭārkaṇ allatu aṭunaṟāk kāmampōl kaṇṭār makiḻceytal iṉṟu.
1090. Wine intoxicates the person when only drunk but love inebriates the soul even by a mere look.

1. kuṟ 110. kuṟippaṟital -CHAPTER 110 CHAPTER 110 CHAPTER 110—READING LOVE’S SIGNS READING LOVE’S SIGNS READING LOVE’S SIGNS

1091 irunōkku ivaḷuṇkaṇ uḷḷatu orunōkku nōynōkkoṉṟu annōy maruntu.
1091. The glances of her collirium-painted eyes have a double sway. One wounds and the other heals.

229 1092 kaṇkaḷavu koḷḷum ciṟunōkkam kāmattil cempākam aṉṟu peritu.
1092. More telling than her actual embrace are her stealthy love looks.

1093 nōkkiṉāṉ nōkki iṟaiñciṉāḷ aḵtavaḷ yāppiṉuḷ aṭṭiya nīr.
1093. She gazed and gazed but she became shy and her bashful look has nurtured the plant of love between us.

1094 yāṉnōkkum kālai nilaṉnōkkum nōkkākkāl tāṉnōkki mella nakum.
1094. She casts her shy look on earth when I gaze at her; but if I turn aside, she glances at me with a gentle smile.

1095 kuṟikkoṇṭu nōkkāmai allāl orukaṇ ciṟakkaṇittāḷ pōla nakum.
1095. Without looking straight at me, with furtive glances she smiles inwardly.

1096 uṟāa tavarpōl coliṉum ceṟāarcol ollai uṇarap paṭum.
1096. Though her words are as harsh as those of a stranger, they betoken only love.

1097 ceṟāac ciṟucollum ceṟṟārpōl nōkkum 230 uṟāarpōṉṟu uṟṟār kuṟippu.
1097. The pretended angry look and the bitter-sweet word of the beloved are like those of a stranger. Surely these are but the masks of her love.

1098 acaiyiyaṟku uṇṭuāṇṭōr ēeryāṉ nōkkap pacaiyiṉaḷ paiya nakum.

1. When I look beseechingly at her she returns a gentle smile. Oh, what

bewitching charm fills the tender maid’s look!

1099 ētilār pōlap potunōkku nōkkutal kātalār kaṇṇē uḷa.

1. Oh, what an indifferent air do the lovers assume! They look at each other as if

they were strangers.

1100 kaṇṇōṭu kaṇiṇai nōkkokkiṉ vāyccoṟkaḷ eṉṉa payaṉum ila.
1100. Of what avail are words when eyes speak to eyes and heart whispers unto heart.

–

1. puṇ 111. puṇarcci maki arcci maki arcci makiḻtal -CHAPTER 111 CHAPTER 111 CHAPTER 111—THE ECSTACY OF LOVE’S UNION THE ECSTACY OF LOVE’S UNION THE ECSTACY OF LOVE’S UNION

1101 kaṇṭukēṭṭu uṇṭuuyirttu uṟṟaṟiyum aimpulaṉum oṇṭoṭi kaṇṇē uḷa.
1101. All the pleasures that the five senses give us are garnered in this lady with glittering bracelets. What a thrill she gives me! 231

1102 piṇikku maruntu piṟamaṉ aṇiyiḻai taṉnōykkut tāṉē maruntu.
1102. The remedy for a disease lies not in the disease but in some healing balm; but not so the loved one who is at once the disease and the cure for the pangs of love.

1103 tāmvīḻvār meṉtōḷ tuyiliṉ iṉitukol tāmaraik kaṇṇāṉ ulaku.
1103. Are the pleasures of the world of the lotus-eyed lord sweeter than reclining on the soft shoulder of the beloved?

1104 nīṅkiṉ teṟūum kuṟukuṅkāl taṇṇeṉṉum tīyāṇṭup peṟṟāḷ ivaḷ.

1. This lady has a fire which burns me with passion when I am away; but it cools

down when I see her. Can anyone say where she has acquired this power?

1105 vēṭṭa poḻutiṉ avaiyavai pōlumē tōṭṭār katuppiṉāḷ tōḷ.
1105. Like the dreams of pleasures sought, the embrace of this sweet-shouldered, flower-decked maiden gives me untold pleasure.

1106 uṟutōṟu uyirtaḷippat tīṇṭalāl pētaikku amiḻtiṉ iyaṉṟaṉa tōḷ. 232 1106. Her embrace ever kindles new warm life in me. Verily her shoulders are packed with ambrosia.

1107 tammil iruntu tamatupāttu uṇṭaṟṟāl ammā arivai muyakku.
1107. The embrace of my golden-coloured love reminds me of the joy of a householder who delights in fulfilling the laws of hospitality.

1108 vīḻum iruvarkku iṉitē vaḷiyiṭai pōḻap paṭāa muyakku.
1108. Sweet indeed to both the lover and his beloved is that close embrace which allows not even a wisp of air to steal in between their arms.

1109 ūṭal uṇartal puṇartal ivaikāmam kūṭiyār peṟṟa payaṉ.

1. Separation, reconciliation and reunion are the pleasures vouchsafed to those

stricken with love.

1110 aṟitōṟu aṟiyāmai kaṇṭaṟṟāl kāmam ceṟitōṟum cēyiḻai māṭṭu.

1. The more I taste the charms of my beloved the more do d hunger for them.

Verily what is already experienced pales into insignificance before the promise of the future.

233

1. nalam 112. nalampuṉaintu uraittal aintu uraittal aintu uraittal -CHAPTER 112 CHAPTER 112 CHAPTER 112—ON HIS LADY ON HIS LADY ON HIS LADY

1111 naṉṉīrai vāḻi aṉiccamē niṉṉiṉum meṉṉīraḷ yāmvīḻ pavaḷ.
1111. O aniccam flower, the best and softest of all flowers, may you be blest; but do not forget that my lady is yet more tender.

1112 malarkāṇiṉ maiyātti neñcē ivaḷkaṇ palarkāṇum pūvokkum eṉṟu.
1112. O Mind, when you behold flowers you think that your beloved’s eyes are like these and pine away.

1113 muṟimēṉi muttam muṟuval veṟināṟṟam vēluṇkaṇ vēyttōḷ avaṭku.

1. Her body is of rich gold, her teeth pearls. She is fragrant, her eyes dart forth

glances like a lance, her shoulders gently curve as the bamboo. O! what a varied charm my beloved has!

1114 kāṇiṉ kuvaḷai kaviḻntu nilaṉnōkkum māṇiḻai kaṇṇovvēm eṉṟu.
1114. The kundalai flower hangs down in shame before the eyes of my tastefully adorned lady-love.

1115 aṉiccappūk kālkaḷaiyāḷ peytāḷ nucuppiṟku nalla paṭāa paṟai. 234 1115. She decks herself with aniccam flowers without removing the stalks. It is the death-knell of her slender waist.

1116 matiyum maṭantai mukaṉum aṟiyā patiyiṉ kalaṅkiya mīṉ.
1116. Even the stars of heaven veer their usual courses mistaking my lady’s face for their queen moon.

1117 aṟuvāy niṟainta avirmatikkup pōla maṟuvuṇṭō mātar mukattu.
1117. Is there a dark spot on the face of my lady-love as on the shining moon which waxes and wanes?

1118 mātar mukampōl oḷiviṭa vallaiyēl kātalai vāḻi mati.
1118. Blest indeed are you. Moon! If you will be resplendent without a spot even as the face of my lady, I shall love you with all my heart.

1119 malaraṉṉa kaṇṇāḷ mukamotti yāyiṉ palarkāṇat tōṉṟal mati.
1119. Moon, if you wish to equal the face of my lady then hide yourself from this world.

1120 aṉiccamum aṉṉattiṉ tūviyum mātar 235 aṭikku neruñcip paḻam.
1120. The soft aniccam flower and the down of the swan are but thistles before the soft feet of my lady.

1. kātaṟ 113. kātaṟciṟappu uraittal appu uraittal appu uraittal -CHAPTER 113 CHAPTER 113 CHAPTER 113—ON THE AFFIRMATION OF LOVE ON THE AFFIRMATION OF LOVE ON THE AFFIRMATION OF LOVE

1121 pāloṭu tēṉkalan taṟṟē paṇimoḻi vāleyiṟu ūṟiya nīr.
1121. The kiss of the tender lips of my modest maid is like the taste of honey with milk.

1122 uṭampoṭu uyiriṭai eṉṉamaṟṟu aṉṉa maṭantaiyoṭu emmiṭai naṭpu.
1122. The love that has sprung up between me and my beloved is constant, even as body and soul are inseparable.

1123 karumaṇiyiṉ pāvāynī pōtāyām vīḻum tirunutaṟku illai iṭam.
1123. O Image in the pupil of my eye, begone! How can my fair-browed lady sit enthroned, unless you give place to her?

1124 vāḻtal uyirkkaṉṉaḷ āyiḻai cātal ataṟkaṉṉaḷ nīṅku miṭattu.

1. Embracing the arms of my choicely adorned lady I feel all the thrill and joy of

life, but the moment I separate, I feel the wretchedness of death. 236

1125 uḷḷuvaṉ maṉyāṉ maṟappiṉ maṟappaṟiyēṉ oḷḷamark kaṇṇāḷ kuṇam.
1125. I cannot forget the noble quality of my love of the sparkling eyes.

1126 kaṇṇuḷḷiṉ pōkār imaippiṉ paruvarār nuṇṇiyarem kāta lavar.
1126. My lover will never vanish from my eyes; nor will he be disturbed if I close them. He is so ethereal as to be invisible.

1127 kaṇṇuḷḷār kāta lavarākak kaṇṇum eḻutēm karappākku aṟintu.
1127. I fear to paint ray eyes, lest it should hide the vision of my lord dwelling within.

1128 neñcattār kāta lavarāka veytuṇṭal añcutum vēpākku aṟintu.
1128. With my lover in my heart I do not eat anything hot lest it should harm the delicate one.

1129 imaippiṉ karappākku aṟival aṉaittiṟkē ētilar eṉṉumiv vūr.
1129. My eyes wink not lest they should lose the vision of my lord within; not knowing this people blame him for my sleeplessness.

237 1130 uvantuṟaivr uḷḷattuḷ eṉṟum ikantuṟaivar ētilar eṉṉumiv vūr.
1130. Delightfully my lover makes my heart for ever his abode; but villainous people say he is cruel and dwells apart.

1. nāṇ 114. nāṇuttuṟavu uraittal avu uraittal avu uraittal -CHAPTER 114 CHAPTER 114 CHAPTER 114—SPEAKING OUT UNABASHED SPEAKING OUT UNABASHED SPEAKING OUT UNABASHED

1131 kāmam uḻantu varuntiṉārkku ēmam maṭalallatu illai vali.
1131. Men anguished by unrequited love find no stronger solace than mounting the madal.

1132 nōṉā uṭampum uyirum maṭalēṟum nāṇiṉai nīkki niṟuttu.
1132. My body and soul, unequal to the pangs of love, seek to mount the madal; bashfulness and reserve are swept away.

1133 nāṇoṭu nallāṇmai paṇṭuṭaiyēṉ iṉṟuṭaiyēṉ kāmuṟṟār ēṟum maṭal.
1133. Reserve and dignified manliness once I had; but today I possess the madal which the helpless love-sick resort to.

1134 kāmak kaṭumpuṉal uykkumē nāṇoṭu nallāṇmai eṉṉum puṉai. 238 1134. The giant force of the floods of love has carried away the raft of my manliness.

1135 toṭalaik kuṟuntoṭi tantāḷ maṭaloṭu mālai uḻakkum tuyar.
1135. The lady of little bracelets strung like garlands has taught me the love-sick pangs of evening and the madal horse. Never before have I known them.

1136 maṭalūrtal yāmattum uḷḷuvēṉ maṉṟa paṭalollā pētaikkueṉ kaṇ.
1136. Thinking of this maid, my eyelids never close in slumber; even in dead of night my thoughts run, on the suicidal madal.

1137 kaṭalaṉṉa kāmam uḻantum maṭalēṟāp peṇṇiṉ peruntakkatu il.
1137. Woman tossed about in a sea of the anguish of love think not of mounting the madal — there is nothing greater than this.

1138 niṟaiyariyar maṉaḷiyar eṉṉātu kāmam maṟaiiṟantu maṉṟu paṭum.

1. Oh my beloved I Wanton is my love which has no sympathy for my modesty or

my helplessness; How it compels me to unpack my hidden secret and drag it out to the open!

239 1139 aṟikilār ellārum eṉṟēeṉ kāmam maṟukiṉ maṟukum maruṇṭu.
1139. ‘Nobody knows my secret’ I said to myself; but my angry love rages in the market-place to my utter disgrace.

1140 yāmkaṇṇiṉ kāṇa nakupa aṟivillār yāmpaṭṭa tāmpaṭā vāṟu.
1140. Foolish people laugh at me before my very eyes; verily they have not experienced agony of love.

1. alar aṟivuṟuttal - CHAPTER 115— RUMOURS OF SECRET LOVE

1141 alaraḻa āruyir niṟkum ataṉaip palaraṟiyār pākkiyat tāl.
1141. The many scandals about our love do indeed give me fresh hope and sustain my wretched life. Luckily for me the village folk do not know what their scandals have done.

1142 malaraṉṉa kaṇṇāḷ arumai aṟiyātu alaremakku īntatuiv vūr.
1142. Blind to the esteem of my lady of flower-like eyes, the village folk have linked her name with mine.

1143 uṟāatō ūraṟinta kauvai ataṉaip peṟāatu peṟṟaṉṉa nīrttu. 240 1143. Is not the rumour of this village sweet to me? For it makes me feel that I have attained the bliss of love even without my lover at my side.

1144 kavvaiyāl kavvitu kāmam atuviṉṟēl tavveṉṉum taṉmai iḻantu.
1144. The rumours set afloat have heightened my love; but for these, it might lose its sweetness and wither away.

1145 kaḷittoṟum kaḷḷuṇṭal vēṭṭaṟṟāl kāmam veḷippaṭun tōṟum iṉitu.

1. Each cup adds to the gaiety of a revelling drunkard. Even so each rumour of

our love adds to my delight.

1146 kaṇṭatu maṉṉum orunāḷ alarmaṉṉum tiṅkaḷaip pāmpukoṇ ṭaṟṟu.
1146. Only once have I seen him; but oh! rumours of our secret love have spread all over the vast world, even as the news of the serpent devouring

1147 ūravar kauvai eruvāka aṉṉaicol nīrāka nīḷumin nōy.
1147. How this plant of sickness grows on! The gossip of the village manures it and the frown of my mother waters it.

241 1148 neyyāl erinutuppēm eṉṟaṟṟāl kauvaiyāṟal kāmam nutuppēm eṉal.
1148. With the scandals of the village one can never stifle love; it is like smothering fire with ghee.

1149 alarnāṇa olvatō añcalōmpu eṉṟār palarnāṇa nīttak kaṭai.
1149. When my lover who swore not to leave me alone has abandoned me to the mockery of the many, why need I fear these tittle-tattle?

1150 tāmvēṇṭiṉ nalkuvar kātalar yāmvēṇṭum kauvai eṭukkumiv vūr.
1150. This village rumour is useful; it has coupled you and your lover; the moment he desires, the lover can thus help us. End of the Secret Union End of the Secret Union

SECTION II SECTION II—WEDDED LOVE WEDDED LOVE WEDDED LOVE

1. pirivu āṟṟ 116. pirivu āṟṟāmai -CHAPTER 116 CHAPTER 116 CHAPTER 116—THE PANGS OF SEPARAITON THE PANGS OF SEPARAITON THE PANGS OF SEPARAITON

1151 cellāmai uṇṭēl eṉakkuurai maṟṟuniṉ valvaravu vāḻvārkku urai.
1151. If you are not to go away, tell me so that I may sustain my lingering life. If you are to go, return soon.

1152 iṉkaṇ uṭaittavar pārval pirivañcum 242 puṉkaṇ uṭaittāl puṇarvu.

1. In the days of courtship what pleasure lay in each glance of his! Now after our

union, the prospect of his separation brings gloom even in moments of happiness.

1153 aritarō tēṟṟam aṟivuṭaiyār kaṇṇum pirivōr iṭattuuṇmai yāṉ.
1153. Hard it is for me to rest assured; the lover who knows full well my miseries in separation still may part from me, making promises of quick return.

1154 aḷittañcal eṉṟavar nīppiṉ teḷittacol tēṟiyārkku uṇṭō tavaṟu.
1154. How can there be blame on one who has put implicit trust in the comforting words of him who promised to shelter me forever?

1155 ōmpiṉ amaintār pirivōmpal maṟṟavar nīṅkiṉ aritāl puṇarvu.
1155. Stop my lord from leaving me; only then can you save my life. Else it will flee at his parting and never again shall we meet.

1156 pirivuraikkum vaṉkaṇṇar āyiṉ aritavar nalkuvar eṉṉum nacai.
1156. If he is cruel enough to speak of leaving me, I am lost; false it is to entertain any hope of his mercy.

243 1157 tuṟaivaṉ tuṟantamai tūṟṟākol muṉkai iṟaiiṟavā niṉṟa vaḷai.
1157. Will not the bracelets slipping loose from my wrist, tell the tale of the separation of my husband?

1158 iṉṉātu iṉaṉilūr vāḻtal ataṉiṉum iṉṉātu iṉiyārp pirivu.
1158. Painful it is to live removed from familiar friends in a far-off village; but far more painful is the parting of the dearest one.

1159 toṭiṟcuṭiṉ allatu kāmanōy pōla viṭiṉcuṭal āṟṟumō tī.

1. Fire can scorch only when touched, but can it, like love, scorch persons away

from it?

1160 aritāṟṟi allalnōy nīkkip pirivāṟṟip piṉiruntu vāḻvār palar.
1160. Many ladies have gracefully borne news of separation, steered clear of sorrow, endured the parting of the loved one and still survived I

1. paṭ 117. paṭar melintu ira ar melintu ira ar melintu iraṅkal -CHAPTER 117 CHAPTER 117 CHAPTER 117—THE CRY OF THE SEPARATED THE CRY OF THE SEPARATED THE CRY OF THE SEPARATED

1161 maṟaippēṉmaṉ yāṉiḵtō nōyai iṟaippavarkku ūṟṟunīr pōla mikum. 244 1161. This my disease I seek to hide; but how endlessly it wells up like the waters of the spring.

1162 karattalum āṟṟēṉin nōyainōy ceytārkku uraittalum nāṇut tarum.
1162. It lies not in my power to conceal the disease of my love. Nor am I able to speak of it unabashed to him who caused it.

1163 kāmamum nāṇum uyirkāvāt tūṅkumeṉ nōṉā uṭampiṉ akattu.
1163. My frail body is harassed by love and my bashfulness bids me be quiet. My soul is torn between them.

1164 kāmak kaṭalmaṉṉum uṇṭē atunīntum ēmap puṇaimaṉṉum il.

1. Verily the endless sea of love stretches before me; but I find not even a raft to

cross the limitless expanse.

1165 tuppiṉ evaṉāvar maṉkol tuyarvaravu naṭpiṉuḷ āṟṟu pavar.

1. Even to the loving one, he brings so much suffering; how much more pain will

he cause to his enemy!

1166 iṉpam kaṭalmaṟṟuk kāmam aḵtaṭuṅkāl 245 tuṉpam ataṉiṉ peritu.
1166. Vast as the sea is the delight of wedded love; but vaster still are the sorrows of parting.

1167 kāmak kaṭumpuṉal nīntik karaikāṇēṉ yāmattum yāṉē uḷēṉ.

1. Tossed in the troubled waters of love, I reach no shore; 1 am all alone in the

still watches of the night.

1168 maṉṉuyir ellām tuyiṟṟi aḷittirā eṉṉallatu illai tuṇai.

1. Beneficent night which has rocked all living creatures to sleep finds in me her

lone sleepless companion.

1169 koṭiyār koṭumaiyiṉ tāmkoṭiya innāḷ neṭiya kaḻiyum irā.
1169. These nights, all too short in those sweet days, now lengthen their heavy hours, surpassing in cruelty even my lord.

1170 uḷḷampōṉṟu uḷvaḻic celkiṟpiṉ veḷḷanīr nīntala maṉṉōeṉ kaṇ.
1170. If only my eyes like my mind had the speedy power of fleeing to my lover, they need not now swim in a flood of tears.

246

1. kaṇ 118. kaṇvituppu a vituppu a vituppu aḻital -CHAPTER 118 CHAPTER 118 CHAPTER 118—ON EYES THAT LANGUISH ON EYES THAT LANGUISH ON EYES THAT LANGUISH

1171 kaṇtām kaluḻvatu evaṉkolō taṇṭānōy tāmkāṭṭa yāṅkaṇ ṭatu.
1171. Did you not show him to me and push me into the incurable sickness of love? Then why do you weep now to sft him, the cause of all your woe?

1172 terintuṇarā nōkkiya uṇkaṇ parintuṇarāp paital uḻappatu evaṉ.
1172. Oh Eyes! Having thoughtlessly feasted upon the lover, how can you now grieve for your own folly?

1173 katumeṉat tāmnōkkit tāmē kaluḻum itunakat takkatu uṭaittu.
1173. Those eyes once leapt to see the lover; now they weep by themselves. Is it not laughable?

1174 peyalāṟṟā nīrulanta uṇkaṇ uyalāṟṟā uyvilnōy eṉkaṇ niṟuttu.
1174. Plunging me into an inevitable and incurable disease, these eyes of mine pour out their tears and run dry.

1175 paṭalāṟṟā paital uḻakkum kaṭalāṟṟāk kāmanōy ceytaeṉ kaṇ. 247 1175. My eyes that caused a disease of love vaster than the sea itself, do not now close themselves in sleep; they languish in grief.

1176 ōo iṉitē emakkuinnōy ceytakaṇ tāam itaṉpaṭ ṭatu.
1176. The very eyes that have caused me all those woes languish in sorrow by themselves. This is indeed just!

1177 uḻantuuḻantu uḷnīr aṟuka viḻaintuiḻaintu vēṇṭi avarkaṇṭa kaṇ.
1177. These eyes hungered, wept, and repeatedly sent their glances to him. May they grieve and dry up all their stock of tears!

1178 pēṇātu peṭṭār uḷarmaṉṉō maṟṟavark kāṇātu amaivila kaṇ.
1178. She says to her companion: ‘Did you not say that he who loves with words gets the wearing. Unless I see him straight before me, my eyelids do not close in sleep.’

1179 vārākkāl tuñcā variṉtuñcā āyiṭai ārañar uṟṟaṉa kaṇ.
1179. When he is away, my eyes are restless. When he comes, they are sleepless. Lost between these extremities my eyes endure untold suffering.

248 1180 maṟaipeṟal ūrārkku aritaṉṟāl empōl aṟaipaṟai kaṇṇār akattu.
1180. It is certainly not hard for the villagers to read my secret love. My tell-tale eyes proclaim it to the world.

1. pacappuṟ 119. pacappuṟu paruvaral u paruvaral u paruvaral -CHAPTER 119 CHAPTER 119 CHAPTER 119—GRIEVING OVER LOVE’S PALLOR GRIEVING OVER LOVE’S PALLOR GRIEVING OVER LOVE’S PALLOR

1181 nayantavarkku nalkāmai nērntēṉ pacantaveṉ paṇpiyārkku uraikkō piṟa.
1181. I did not assent to my lover’s parting. To whom can I now complain of the pallor of my body, stricken with separation?

1182 avartantār eṉṉum takaiyāl ivartantueṉ mēṉimēl ūrum pacappu.
1182. The pallor spread over my body, exalting in the fact that he gave its birth.

1183 cāyalum nāṇum avarkoṇṭār kaimmāṟā nōyum pacalaiyum tantu.

1. For my beauty and my bashfulness which he took away with him, my lover

rewarded me with anguish and pallor.

1184 uḷḷuvaṉ maṉyāṉ uraippatu avartiṟamāl kaḷḷam piṟavō pacappu.
1184. I think only of him and I open my lips only to sing his praises. Yet this pallor has come over me — O what cunning is this! 249

1185 uvakkāṇem kātalar celvār ivakkāṇeṉ mēṉi pacappuūr vatu.
1185. Lo! Yonder is my lover gone. And here is the pallid hue spreading over my frame.

1186 viḷakkuaṟṟam pārkkum iruḷēpōl koṇkaṉ muyakkuaṟṟam pārkkum pacappu.
1186. Pallor awaits me the moment I am away from my lord’s embrace, even as darkness lies in wait for the light to fade.

1187 pullik kiṭantēṉ puṭaipeyarntēṉ avvaḷavil aḷḷikkoḷ vaṟṟē pacappu.
1187. I lay locked up in my lover’s embrace; I moved away so little from him; when lo! pallor sprang up as it were to devour me.

1188 pacantāḷ ivaḷeṉpatu allāl ivaḷait tuṟantār evareṉpār il.
1188. People say that I have gone sickly pale; never do they blame him that has abandoned me.

1189 pacakkamaṉ paṭṭāṅkueṉ mēṉi nayappittār nalnilaiyar āvar eṉiṉ. 250 1189. If only he would keep his promise to return, my frame would gladly endure all the pallor of love.

1190 pacappeṉap pērpeṟutal naṉṟē nayappittār nalkāmai tūṟṟār eṉiṉ.
1190. Good it is for me to be known as pallor incarnate if only people do not call my lover merciless.

1. taṉ 120. taṉippaṭar mikuti ar mikuti ar mikuti -CHAPTER 120 CHAPTER 120 CHAPTER 120—FEELING ALL ALONE FEELING ALL ALONE FEELING ALL ALONE

1191 tāmvīḻvār tamvīḻap peṟṟavar peṟṟārē kāmattuk kāḻil kaṉi.
1191. Only those women taste all the juice of the seedless fruit of love, whose love is returned by their lovers.

1192 vāḻvārkku vāṉam payantaṟṟāl vīḻvārkku vīḻvār aḷikkum aḷi.
1192. Welcome as the rain to the tillers of the earth is the grace of the lover to his loved one.

1193 vīḻunar vīḻap paṭuvārkku amaiyumē vāḻunam eṉṉum cerukku.
1193. Justly may those women feel proud of their life who are endowed with lovers who requite their love in all its fullness.

251 1194 vīḻap paṭuvār keḻīiyilar tāmvīḻvār vīḻap paṭāar eṉiṉ.
1194. Those whose love is not returned by their sweet ones are unlucky beyond measure. Of what avail to them is the esteem of others?

1195 nāmkātal koṇṭār namakkevaṉ ceypavō tāmkātal koḷḷāk kaṭai.
1195. When he does not return my love, what favour can I expect of him?

1196 orutalaiyāṉ iṉṉātu kāmamkāp pōla irutalai yāṉum iṉitu.
1196. Bitter is unrequited love; sweet it is if returned in equal measure like the wellpoised even scales.

1197 paruvaralum paitalum kāṇāṉkol kāmaṉ oruvarkaṇ niṉṟoḻuku vāṉ.
1197. Cannot the god of love, who pays his attention to me alone, behold all my anguish and sorrow?

1198 vīḻvāriṉ iṉcol peṟāatu ulakattu vāḻvāriṉ vaṉkaṇār il.
1198. Breathes there a more cruel soul on this earth than the one who lives on without the encouraging words of the loved one?

252 1199 nacaiiyār nalkār eṉiṉum avarmāṭṭu icaiyum iṉiya cevikku.
1199. Though the loved one favours me not, delightful indeed is stray news of him that reaches my ears.

1200 uṟāarkku uṟunōy uraippāy kaṭalaic ceṟāaay vāḻiya neñcu.
1200. Oh my heart! try to tell gnawing cares to your unresponsive lover; you may as well strive to dry up the surging sea.

– 121. niṉ 121. niṉaintavar pulampal aintavar pulampal aintavar pulampal – CHAPTER 121— CHAPTER 121—RECOLLECTING THE PLEASURES OF LOVE RECOLLECTING THE PLEASURES OF LOVE RECOLLECTING THE PLEASURES OF LOVE 1201 uḷḷiṉum tīrāp perumakiḻ ceytalāl kaḷḷiṉum kāmam iṉitu.
1201. Love is far sweeter than wine; for unlike wine the very thought of love intoxicates me.

1202 eṉaittoṉṟu iṉitēkāṇ kāmamtām vīḻvār niṉaippa varuvatoṉṟu il.
1202. Love is sweet in all respects; the thought of the dear one even in separation tastes sweet.

1203 niṉaippavar pōṉṟu niṉaiyārkol tummal ciṉaippatu pōṉṟu keṭum. 253 1203. She says to her companion: “A sneeze comes upon me but goes away all of a sudden; perhaps a thought of me occurs to him and then he forgets it.”

1204 yāmum uḷēmkol avarneñcattu emneñcattu ōo uḷarē avar.
1204. He is ever present in my thoughts. Am I or am I not ever present in his thoughts?

1205 tamneñcattu emmaik kaṭikoṇṭār nāṇārkol emneñcattu ōvā varal.
1205. He keeps me away from his heart; does he not feel ashamed of constantly stealing into my heart?

1206 maṟṟuyāṉ eṉṉuḷēṉ maṉṉō avaroṭuyāṉ uṟṟanāḷ uḷḷa uḷēṉ.
1206. Only the recollection of those ecstatic days with him makes me live. What else can sustain me?

1207 maṟappiṉ evaṉāvaṉ maṉkol maṟappaṟiyēṉ uḷḷiṉum uḷḷañ cuṭum.
1207. Never have I forgotten the golden days with my beloved; his separation now burns into my heart; certain is death if ever the memory of him forsakes my luckless heart.

254 1208 eṉaittu niṉaippiṉum kāyār aṉaittaṉṟō kātalar ceyyum ciṟappu.

1. However much I may think of him, he is never angry with me. Inimitable is my

lover’s grace.

1209 viḷiyumeṉ iṉṉuyir vēṟallam eṉpā aḷiyiṉmai āṟṟa niṉaintu.
1209. As I think and think of the cruelty of my love who swore that our lives were inseparable, my soul ebbs away.

1210 viṭāatu ceṉṟāraik kaṇṇiṉāl kāṇap paṭāati vāḻi mati.
1210. She says to the moon : “O blessed moon I ceaselessly pour your rays till I am able to see with my eyes the loved one who has forsaken me but yet dwells forever in my heart.”

1. kaṉ 122. kaṉavunilai uraittal avunilai uraittal avunilai uraittal -CHAPTER 122 CHAPTER 122 CHAPTER 122—DREAMS OF LOVE DREAMS OF LOVE DREAMS OF LOVE

1211 kātalar tūtoṭu vanta kaṉaviṉukku yātucey vēṉkol viruntu.
1211. With what feast may I entertain the dream that has brought glad tidings of my lover?

1212 kayaluṇkaṇ yāṉirappat tuñciṉ kalantārkku uyaluṇmai cāṟṟuvēṉ maṉ. 255 1212. If only my eyes would close in sleep at my request, how I would meet him in dreams!

1213 naṉaviṉāl nalkā tavaraik kaṉaviṉāl kāṇṭaliṉ uṇṭeṉ uyir.
1213. The merciless one favours me not in waking hours but in dreams I feast on him and thus manage to live.

1214 kaṉaviṉāṉ uṇṭākum kāmam naṉaviṉāl nalkārai nāṭit taraṟku.
1214. Why do I love dreams? It is because they bring before me the one who in waking hours favours me not.

1215 naṉaviṉāl kaṇṭatūum āṅkē kaṉavuntāṉ kaṇṭa poḻutē iṉitu.
1215. Sweet is his presence in the waking hours; sweet too is his appearance in a dream. What then do I miss in seeing him in my dreams?

1216 naṉaveṉa oṉṟuillai āyiṉ kaṉaviṉāl kātalar nīṅkalar maṉ.

1. If only there was no such thing as waking hours, my lover would never desert

me in my dreams.

1217 naṉaviṉāl nalkāk koṭiyār kaṉaviṉāl 256 eṉemmaip pīḻip patu.
1217. Why does the cruel one plague me in my dreams when he shows no compassion on me in my waking state?

1218 tuñcuṅkāl tōḷmēlar āki viḻikkuṅkāl neñcattar āvar viraintu.
1218. She says to her companion: “He embraces me in my dreams but the moment I awake he quickly vanishes into my heart.”

1219 naṉaviṉāl nalkārai nōvar kaṉaviṉāl kātalark kāṇā tavar.
1219. Only those women who do not see their lovers in dreams, blame them for their cruelty in walking hours.

1220 naṉaviṉāl namnīttār eṉpar kaṉaviṉāl kāṇārkol ivvū ravar.
1220. Folk say: “He has abandoned her in sooth.” Verily they do not know how he visits me in my dreams.

1. poḻ 123. poḻutukaṇṭu iraṅkal -CHAPTER 123 CHAPTER 123 CHAPTER 123—SUNSET AND SORROW SUNSET AND SORROW SUNSET AND SORROW

1221 mālaiyō allai maṇantār uyiruṇṇum vēlainī vāḻi poḻutu.
1221. O blessed twilight! You are not the twilight of the joyous old times; you are the end of the world devouring the lives of the parted lovers. 257

1222 puṉkaṇṇai vāḻi maruḷmālai eṅkēḷpōl vaṉkaṇṇa tōniṉ tuṇai.
1222. “Blest be thou, O twilight! You are pale and your eyes are lustreless. Is your sweet one as cruel as mine?"

1223 paṉiarumpip paitalkoḷ mālai tuṉiarumpit tuṉpam vaḷara varum.

1. O Evening! In those joyous days with my beloved you approached me timidly

with drops of dew on you and sadness written in your face. Your advance now brings with it only distaste and sorrow.

1224 kātalar ilvaḻi mālai kolaikkaḷattu ētilar pōla varum.
1224. My lover away, evening comes murderously like a hangman rushing to the place of slaughter.

1225 kālaikkuc ceytanaṉṟu eṉkol evaṉkolyāṉ mālaikkuc ceyta pakai.
1225. Morning, Evening, why should these alternately assuage and afflict me in this separation? What good have I done to morn and what harm to even?

1226 mālainōy ceytal maṇantār akalāta kālam aṟintatu ilēṉ. 258 1226. With my lover by my side, never for once, did I taste the bitterness that eventide can cause.

1227 kālai arumpip pakalellām pōtāki mālai malarumin nōy.
1227. This disease of love buds in the morning, grows and grows all day long and flowers into full bloom at eventide.

1228 aḻalpōlum mālaikkut tūtāki āyaṉ kuḻalpōlum kollum paṭai.

1. The note of the shepherd’s pipe, which sounded so pleasant in the happy

days, has now become a message of the hot evening — verily a weapon forging my death.

1229 patimaruṇṭu paital uḻakkum matimaruṇṭu mālai paṭartarum pōḻtu.
1229. When senseless evening creeps painfully along, the whole village feels dizzy and is plunged in the anguish of separation.

1230 poruḷmālai yāḷarai uḷḷi maruḷmālai māyumeṉ māyā uyir.

1. This life of mine which has survived this bitter separation is very near to death

in this treacherous evening, as I think of my lord who values riches far above love.

259

1. uṟ 124. uṟuppu nala uppu nala uppu nalaṉaḻital -CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 124—WASTING AWAY WASTING AWAY WASTING AWAY

1231 ciṟumai namakkoḻiyac cēṇceṉṟār uḷḷi naṟumalar nāṇiṉa kaṇ.
1231. Companion to lady-love: “Stop tins weeping and wailing. The thought of the one gone far away has made your eyes pale and lustreless.”

1232 nayantavar nalkāmai colluva pōlum pacantu paṉivārum kaṇ.
1232. “Your pallid eyes streaming with tears proclaim the callousness of your lord.”

1233 taṇantamai cāla aṟivippa pōlum maṇantanāḷ vīṅkiya tōḷ.
1233. “Your shoulders that swelled with joy on the day of your marriage are thin today; they proclaim how your lord has cruelly forsaken you.”

1234 paṇainīṅkap paintoṭi cōrum tuṇainīṅkit tolkaviṉ vāṭiya tōḷ.
1234. “Since your separation from your lord your shoulders have lost their innate grace; worse still they have become lanky; and the bangles too slip on your slender arms.”

1235 koṭiyār koṭumai uraikkum toṭiyoṭu tolkaviṉ vāṭiya tōḷ. 260

1. My bracelets slip; the charm of my shoulders withers away. It proclaims the

cruelty of the heartless one.

1236 toṭiyoṭu tōḷnekiḻa nōval avaraik koṭiyar eṉakkūṟal nontu.
1236. With loose bangles and leaner shoulders, I still feel pained to hear him called cruel; I cannot bear any affront to my lord’s fair name.

1237 pāṭu peṟutiyō neñcē koṭiyārkkeṉ vāṭutōḷ pūcal uraittu.
1237. “O my heart, do you desire to cover yourself with glory? Then go to the cruel one and tell him the wasting away of my shoulders and these rumours of cruelty abroad.”

1238 muyaṅkiya kaikaḷai ūkkap pacantatu paintoṭip pētai nutal.
1238. He soliloquising: “once when I gently loosened my hands from an ecstatic embrace, the forehead of my love suddenly turned pale. I wonder how she bears my separation in these long days.”

1239 muyakkiṭait taṇvaḷi pōḻap pacappuṟṟa pētai perumaḻaik kaṇ.
1239. “The still eyes of my love dark as the rain bearing cloud turned sickly pale the moment a gust of wind crept in between our locked arms; how does she bear the estranging seas and mountains hurled in between us now?” 261

1240 kaṇṇiṉ pacappō paruvaral eytiṉṟē oṇṇutal ceytatu kaṇṭu.
1240. “Her eyes turned lustreless at the release of my arms from their close embrace; was it in sympathy with the fading brightness of her forehead?”

1. neñcoṭ 125. neñcoṭu kiḷattal -CHAPTER 125 CHAPTER 125 CHAPTER 125—SOLILOQUY OF THE LADY LOQUY OF THE LADY LOQUY OF THE LADY-LOVE

1241 niṉaittuoṉṟu collāyō neñcē eṉaittoṉṟum evvanōy tīrkkum maruntu.
1241. O heart! can you not cast about and find a remedy for my lovesickness which causes me such sorrow?

1242 kātal avarilar ākanī nōvatu pētamai vāḻieṉ neñcu.
1242. ‘Blessed may you be O heart! how foolish of you to bemoan separation when he has no love for you!’

1243 iruntuḷḷi eṉparital neñcē parintuḷḷal paitalnōy ceytārkaṇ il.

1. ‘O heart! Why stay in vain here and feel wretched? There is no sympathy in the

heart of him who has caused you this wasting disease.’

262 1244 kaṇṇum koḷaccēṟi neñcē ivaiyeṉṉait tiṉṉum avarkāṇal uṟṟu.
1244. ‘O my heart! if you go to him, take my eyes also with you. They eat into my being in their craving to see him.’

1245 ceṟṟār eṉakkai viṭaluṇṭō neñcēyām uṟṟāl uṟāa tavar.
1245. ‘O heart! can I really forsake him as cruel though he has used me cruelly when I clung to him.’

1246 kalantuṇarntum kātalark kaṇṭāl pulantuṇarāy poykkāyvu kāytieṉ neñcu.
1246. ‘O my heart I could you ever bear even a mock quarrel with your lover to sweeten his company Then why call him cruel now for your own fault?’

1247 kāmam viṭuoṉṟō nāṇviṭu naṉṉeñcē yāṉō poṟēṉiv viraṇṭu.
1247. My good heart I cast off one of the two - love or bashfulness. I cannot bear the insupportable weight of them both.

1248 parintavar nalkāreṉṟu ēṅkip pirintavar piṉcelvāy pētaieṉ neñcu.

1. ‘You go seeking with a hopeless aching heart after the far-off lover, because

he has not understood and favoured you with his mercy. O foolish heart!’

263 1249 uḷḷattār kāta lavarāka uḷḷinī yāruḻaic cēṟieṉ neñcu.

1. ‘O my heart, is it you keep your lover within you? Then whom do you search in

your thoughts? Why search for him outside? Whom do you hope to reach?’

1250 tuṉṉāt tuṟantārai neñcattu uṭaiyēmā iṉṉum iḻantum kaviṉ.
1250. The more I have him in my heart who has left me never to come back, the more my beauty wastes away.

1. niṟ 126. niṟai aḻital -CHAPTER 126 CHAPTER 126 CHAPTER 126—ON LOSS ON LOSS ON LOSS OF MODESTY OF MODESTY OF MODESTY

1251 kāmak kaṇicci uṭaikkum niṟaiyeṉṉum nāṇuttāḻ vīḻtta katavu.
1251. The door of my maidenly grace and the bolt and bars of modesty are hewn by the weapon of restless love.

1252 kāmam eṉaoṉṟō kaṇṇiṉṟueṉ neñcattai yāmattum āḷum toḻil.
1252. Verily the thing called love has no grace; even at dead of night it rules my heart and keeps it awake when all the world is in slumber.

1253 maṟaippēṉmaṉ kāmattai yāṉō kuṟippuiṉṟit tummalpōl tōṉṟi viṭum. 264 1253. I strive to hide this - my passion. Yet it breaks out against my wish like a sudden sneeze.

1254 niṟaiyuṭaiyēṉ eṉpēṉmaṉ yāṉōeṉ kāmam maṟaiyiṟantu maṉṟu paṭum.
1254. I pride myself on my modesty. But my passion breaks all barriers and brings me out into the open.

1255 ceṟṟārpiṉ cellāp peruntakaimai kāmanōy uṟṟār aṟivatoṉṟu aṉṟu.
1255. Victims of passion can never understand the nobility of giving up the pursuit of unrequited love.

1256 ceṟṟavar piṉcēṟal vēṇṭi aḷittarō eṟṟeṉṉai uṟṟa tuyar.

1. How cruel is the malady which sends me after the heartless one! Mine is

indeed a pitiable lot.

1257 nāṇeṉa oṉṟō aṟiyalam kāmattāl pēṇiyār peṭpa ceyiṉ.
1257. When the loved one, after all his vagaries, took me into his loving embraces all my bashfulness fled away.

1258 paṉmāyak kaḷvaṉ paṇimoḻi aṉṟōnam 265 peṇmai uṭaikkum paṭai.
1258. The weapon that shatters our maidenly reserve is none other than the talk of the artful lover.

1259 pulappal eṉacceṉṟēṉ pulliṉēṉ neñcam kalattal uṟuvatu kaṇṭu.
1259. With the fixed resolve of forsaking him I went, but my heart yielded to his embrace.

1260 niṇamtīyil iṭṭaṉṉa neñciṉārkku uṇṭō puṇarntatuūṭi niṟpōm eṉal.

1. People with hearts melting like fat at the touch of fire — how can they reject

the offered love and stand aloof?

– 127. avarvayiṉ 127. avarvayiṉvitumpal vitumpal vitumpal – CHAPTER 127— CHAPTER 127—ON DISTRESS OF EACH TOWARDS THE OTHER ON DISTRESS OF EACH TOWARDS THE OTHER ON DISTRESS OF EACH TOWARDS THE OTHER 1261 vāḷaṟṟup puṟkeṉṟa kaṇṇum avarceṉṟa nāḷoṟṟit tēynta viral.
1261. Counting the days of his separation, my fingers have become wasted and worn out; my eyes have grown dim and faint.

1262 ilaṅkiḻāy iṉṟu maṟappiṉeṉ tōḷmēl kalaṅkaḻiyum kārikai nīttu.
1262. O! bright girl, if I forget my lord today, then my shoulders will become thin and my bangles loose. 266

1263 uraṉnacaii uḷḷam tuṇaiyākac ceṉṟār varalnacaii iṉṉum uḷēṉ.
1263. I continue to live in eager expectation of the return of my lover. He took with him as his friend his own brave heart.

1264 kūṭiya kāmam pirintār varavuḷḷik kōṭukoṭu ēṟumeṉ neñcu.
1264. With the thought of my lover’s return anxious for reunion, my heart goes on climbing higher and higher.

1265 kāṇkamaṉ koṇkaṉaik kaṇṇārak kaṇṭapiṉ nīṅkumeṉ meṉtōḷ pacappu.
1265. After feasting my eyes with the sight of my husband, my soft shoulders will lose their pallor.

1266 varukamaṉ koṇkaṉ orunāḷ parukuvaṉ paitalnōy ellām keṭa.
1266. Let my husband come here one day. Then my wasting disease will be completely cured.

1267 pulappēṉkol pulluvēṉ kollō kalappēṉkol kaṇaṉṉa kēḷir variṉ. 267 1267. When my husband, dear to me as my eyes, returns, shall I be indifferent or complaining? Shall I not be one with him?

1268 viṉaikalantu veṉṟīka vēntaṉ maṉaikalantu mālai ayarkam viruntu.
1268. May my lord be victorious in action and may I also go home to enjoy my evening repast with a guest.

1269 orunāḷ eḻunāḷpōl cellumcēṇ ceṉṟār varunāḷvaittu ēṅku pavarkku.
1269. To one who awaits the day of arrival of her husband, one day appears as long as seven.

1270 peṟiṉeṉṉām peṟṟakkāl eṉṉām uṉeṉṉām uḷḷam uṭaintuukkak kāl.
1270. If her heart has been broken, of what avail is it if I become available to her, reach her or even join her?

1. kuṟ 128. kuṟippu aṟivuṟuttal -CHAPTER 128 CHAPTER 128 CHAPTER 128—ON SPEAKING ON THE SIGNS ON SPEAKING ON THE SIGNS ON SPEAKING ON THE SIGNS

1271 karappiṉum kaiyikantu ollāniṉ uṇkaṇ uraikkal uṟuvatoṉṟu uṇṭu.
1271. Though you hide it, your uncontrolled eyes reveal a secret to me.

268 1272 kaṇniṟainta kārikaik kāmpuērtōḷ pētaikkup peṇniṟainta nīrmai peritu.

1. This girl of long eyes and bamboo shoulders has too much womanly modesty.

1273 maṇiyil tikaḻtaru nūlpōl maṭantai aṇiyil tikaḻvatoṉṟu uṇṭu.
1273. Just like the thread concealed by the beads there is something lying beneath this damsel’s beauty.

1274 mukaimokkuḷ uḷḷatu nāṟṟampōl pētai nakaimokkuḷ uḷḷatoṉṟu uṇṭu.
1274. Even as the fragrance that is locked up in the bud, there is something hidden in this damsel’s smile.

1275 ceṟitoṭi ceytiṟanta kaḷḷam uṟutuyar tīrkkum maruntoṉṟu uṭaittu.
1275. The tactful departure of my bangled lady serves as soothing balm for my excruciating pain.

1276 peritāṟṟip peṭpak kalattal aritāṟṟi aṉpiṉmai cūḻvatu uṭaittu.
1276. The pleasant union after the distress of separation still reminds one of the past indifference of the lover.

269 1277 taṇṇam tuṟaivaṉ taṇantamai nammiṉum muṉṉam uṇarnta vaḷai.
1277. My bangles betrayed even before I did my lover’s separation from me.

1278 nerunaṟṟuc ceṉṟārem kātalar yāmum eḻunāḷēm mēṉi pacantu.
1278. It was only yesterday that my lover went, but I have acquired seven days’ pallor.

1279 toṭinōkki meṉtōḷum nōkki aṭinōkki aḵtāṇṭu avaḷcey tatu.
1279. She looks at her bangles; she looks at her beautiful shoulders and she looks down at her feet. This is her present occupation.

1280 peṇṇiṉāl peṇmai uṭaitteṉpa kaṇṇiṉāṟal kāmanōy colli iravu.
1280. The eyes seek the cure of passion. It is the modesty of a modest woman.

1. puṇ 129. puṇarcci vitumpal arcci vitumpal arcci vitumpal -CHAPTER 129 CHAPTER 129 CHAPTER 129—ON YEARNING AFTER UNION ON YEARNING AFTER UNION ON YEARNING AFTER UNION

1281 uḷḷak kaḷittalum kāṇa makiḻtalum kaḷḷukkuil kāmattiṟku uṇṭu.
1281. To become pleased with the thought and happy at the sight of the lover, these are the fruits not of wine but of love.

270 1282 tiṉaittuṇaiyum ūṭāmai vēṇṭum paṉaittuṇaiyum kāmam niṟaiya variṉ.
1282. If a woman’s passion becomes excessive, she should avoid even slight misunderstanding.

1283 pēṇātu peṭpavē ceyyiṉum koṇkaṉaik kāṇātu amaiyala kaṇ.
1283. Though my husband acts regardless of me, yet my eyes cannot be satisfied without seeing him.

1284 ūṭalkaṇ ceṉṟēṉmaṉ tōḻi atumaṟantu kūṭaṟkaṇ ceṉṟatueṉ neñcu.
1284. O Friend! I went to quarrel with him; but forgetting it my heart sought for reconciliation.

1285 eḻutuṅkāl kōlkāṇāk kaṇṇēpōl koṇkaṉ paḻikāṇēṉ kaṇṭa viṭattu.
1285. Just as our eyes do not see the pen when writing I could not see my lover’s faults when I saw him.

1286 kāṇuṅkāl kāṇēṉ tavaṟāya kāṇākkāl kāṇēṉ tavaṟual lavai.
1286. When I see my husband I cannot see his faults. In his absence I cannot see anything else. 271

1287 uyttal aṟintu puṉalpāy pavarēpōl poyttal aṟinteṉ pulantu.
1287. Of what avail is it to sift all the lies of one’s husband! It is as ineffectual as a diver battling with an irresistible current.

1288 iḷittakka iṉṉā ceyiṉum kaḷittārkkuk kaḷḷaṟṟē kaḷvaniṉ mārpu.

1. O cheat! your breast is coveted more and more even as liquor with all its harm

is by the drunkard.

1289 malariṉum mellitu kāmam cilarataṉ cevvi talaippaṭu vār.
1289. More tender than a flower is love and few are they who enjoy it fully.

1290 kaṇṇiṉ tuṉittē kalaṅkiṉāḷ pullutal eṉṉiṉum tāṉvitup puṟṟu.
1290. With resentful eyes, my lady complained: but eager for reconciliation she forgets her anger.

–

1. neñcoṭ 130. neñcoṭu pulattal u pulattal u pulattal -CHAPTER 130 CHAPTER 130 CHAPTER 130—ON SPEAKING WITH THE MIND ON SPEAKING WITH THE MIND ON SPEAKING WITH THE MIND

1291 avarneñcu avarkkātal kaṇṭum evaṉneñcē nīemakku ākā tatu. 272 1291. O! My heart, though you know that my husband’s heart thinks only o^ himself, how is it you think of him and not of me?

1292 uṟāa tavarkaṇṭa kaṇṇum avaraic ceṟāareṉac cēṟieṉ neñcu.
1292. O! My heart, knowing that he has no thought for you, still you run after him expecting no refusal.

1293 keṭṭārkku naṭṭāril eṉpatō neñcēnī peṭṭāṅku avarpiṉ celal.
1293. 0! My heart, you go after him without my permission. Is it because none will befriend those in adversity?

1294 iṉiaṉṉa niṉṉoṭu cūḻvāryār neñcē tuṉiceytu tuvvāykāṇ maṟṟu.
1294. O! My heart, if you see him, you do not resent his faults. Who can consult you for advice?

1295 peṟāamai añcum peṟiṉpirivu añcum aṟāa iṭumpaittueṉ neñcu.
1295. My mind can have only endless anxiety; for I fear both when he is with me and also without me.

1296 taṉiyē iruntu niṉaittakkāl eṉṉait 273 tiṉiya iruntatueṉ neñcu.
1296. My heart eats me up when I think of him in my loneliness.

1297 nāṇum maṟantēṉ avarmaṟak kallāeṉ māṇā maṭaneñcil paṭṭu.
1297. With my foolish heart remembering him who has forgotten me, I have forgotten even my sense of shame.

1298 eḷḷiṉ iḷivāmeṉṟu eṇṇi avartiṟam uḷḷum uyirkkātal neñcu.
1298. My heart that loves life and views it ignoble to blame and to deny access to him, ever thinks of his success.

1299 tuṉpattiṟku yārē tuṇaiyāvār tāmuṭaiya neñcam tuṇaiyal vaḻi.
1299. Who will be a friend in misery but one’s own heart?

1300 tañcam tamarallar ētilār tāmuṭaiya neñcam tamaral vaḻi. tiṟaṉ kāṭṭuka 1300. If one’s own heart turns against one, how can one expect anything but hostility from others?

–

1. pulavi - 131. pulavi -CHAPTER 131 CHAPTER 131 CHAPTER 131—ON LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING ON LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING ON LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING

274 1301 pullātu irāap pulattai avaruṟum allalnōy kāṇkam ciṟitu.
1301. Let us see a little his distress in passion, by showing reserve. ^

1302 uppamain taṟṟāl pulavi atuciṟitu mikkaṟṟāl nīḷa viṭal.

1. Reserve like a pinch of salt adds to enjoyment, If excessive, it spoils the taste.

1303 alantārai allalnōy ceytaṟṟāl tammaip pulantāraip pullā viṭal.
1303. If men do not pacify women who feign coolness, it is like causing more pain to those who already suffer.

1304 ūṭi yavarai uṇarāmai vāṭiya vaḷḷi mutalarin taṟṟu.
1304. Not to pacify the lady who feigns coolness is to cut the withering creeper away at the root.

1305 nalattakai nallavarkku ēer pulattakai pūaṉṉa kaṇṇār akattu.
1305. The beauty of a loyal lover is only enhanced by the reserve of his flower-eyed lady.

1306 tuṉiyum pulaviyum illāyiṉ kāmam 275 kaṉiyum karukkāyum aṟṟu.
1306. If indignation and gentle resentment are absent, love will be like fruit over-ripe or unripe.

1307 ūṭaliṉ uṇṭāṅkōr tuṉpam puṇarvatu nīṭuvatu aṉṟukol eṉṟu.
1307. There is anxiety and pain in lovers’ uncertain quarrels.

1308 nōtal evaṉmaṟṟu nontāreṉṟu aḵtaṟiyum kātalar illā vaḻi.
1308. If a lover were to be blind to the suffering of the lady-love, then the suffering would be in vain.

1309 nīrum niḻalatu iṉitē pulaviyum vīḻunar kaṇṇē iṉitu.
1309. Just as water in the shade is sweet, so lovers’ quarrels become sweet only to people deep-rooted in love.

1310 ūṭal uṇaṅka viṭuvārōṭu eṉṉeñcam kūṭuvēm eṉpatu avā.
1310. My heart longs for reunion with him who cares not for my sufferings in the quarrel.

pulavi nuṇ 132. pulavi nuṇukkam – CHAPTER 132— CHAPTER 132—ON SUBTLETY OF LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING ON SUBTLETY OF LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING ON SUBTLETY OF LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING 276 1311 peṇiyalār ellārum kaṇṇiṉ potuuṇpar naṇṇēṉ parattaniṉ mārpu.
You yielded yourself to all sorts of women to look at you with their eyes. Therefore I shall not approach your breast.

1312 ūṭi iruntēmāt tummiṉār yāmtammai nīṭuvāḻ keṉpākku aṟintu.
1312. When I sat away from him, he sneezed knowing that I would bless him, saying “May you live long.”

1313 kōṭṭuppūc cūṭiṉum kāyum oruttiyaik kāṭṭiya cūṭiṉīr eṉṟu.
1313. Even if I put on a garland of hill-flowers, my sweetheart will say “You wore this to please some mistress of yours.”

1314 yāriṉum kātalam eṉṟēṉā ūṭiṉāḷ yāriṉum yāriṉum eṉṟu.
1314. When I said my beloved was greater than anybody else, she grew angry and repeatedly asked me “Greater than whom?”

1315 immaip piṟappil piriyalam eṉṟēṉāk kaṇniṟai nīrkoṇ ṭaṉaḷ.
1315. When I said “We shall not separate in this life”, her eyes were full of tears meaning that I would separate from her in the next life. 277

1316 uḷḷiṉēṉ eṉṟēṉmaṟṟu eṉmaṟantīr eṉṟemmaip pullāḷ pulattak kaṉaḷ.
1316. When I said ‘I thought of you’, she replied “So you forgot me before” and felt displeased.

1317 vaḻuttiṉāḷ tummiṉēṉ āka aḻittaḻutāḷ yāruḷḷit tummiṉīr eṉṟu.

1. When I sneezed she blessed me; but she wept and asked me which maiden

thought of me when I sneezed.

1318 tummuc ceṟuppa aḻutāḷ numaruḷḷal emmai maṟaittirō eṉṟu.
1318. When I controlled sneezing, she shed fretful tears and asked whether I tried to conceal the fact that others think of me.

1319 taṉṉai uṇarttiṉum kāyum piṟarkkunīr innīrar ākutir eṉṟu.
1319. She will quarrel with me even if I fully satisfy her, saying “You will behave thus to every woman.”

1320 niṉaittiruntu nōkkiṉum kāyum aṉaittunīr yāruḷḷi nōkkiṉīr eṉṟu. 278 1320. If I look at her silently and appreciate her beauty, she will ask me querulously, “whom you are thinking of?”

– 133. ūṭ 133. ūṭal uvakai al uvakai al uvakai CHAPTER 133 CHAPTER 133—ON THE PLEASURES OF LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PLEASURES OF LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PLEASURES OF LOVERS’ MISUNDERSTANDING 1321 illai tavaṟuavarkku āyiṉum ūṭutal vallatu avaraḷikkum āṟu.

1. Though he is guiltless, false accusations make him more attached.

1322 ūṭalil tōṉṟum ciṟutuṉi nalaḷi vāṭiṉum pāṭu peṟum.
1322. The little resentment resulting from lover’s quarrels yields delight in the end, though it may for the moment seem to cause pain.

1323 pulattaliṉ puttēḷnāṭu uṇṭō nilattoṭu nīriyain taṉṉār akattu.
1323. Is there any other heaven than the quarrel between lovers whose minds are united even as earth and water?

1324 pulli viṭāap pulaviyuḷ tōṉṟumeṉ uḷḷam uṭaikkum paṭai.
1324. The weapon that breaks my obstinate heart lies in the quarrel itself.

1325 tavaṟilar āyiṉum tāmvīḻvār meṉtōḷ 279 akaṟaliṉ āṅkoṉṟu uṭaittu.
1325. Though guiltless being denied, there is a pleasure in the embrace of the soft beautiful shoulders of the sweetheart.

1326 uṇaliṉum uṇṭatu aṟaliṉitu kāmam puṇartaliṉ ūṭal iṉitu.
1326. Sweeter than eating is the pause in the process. Likewise misunderstanding by lovers affords more joy than union itself.

1327 ūṭalil tōṟṟavar veṉṟār atumaṉṉum kūṭalil kāṇap paṭum.
1327. In a lovers’ quarrel, the vanquished becomes the victor; this is revealed when they reunite.

1328 ūṭip peṟukuvam kollō nutalveyarppak kūṭalil tōṉṟiya uppu.
1328. Am I likely to gain, after a friendly quarrel, the delight now experienced in the union with her moistened forehead?

1329 ūṭuka maṉṉō oḷiyiḻai yāmirappa nīṭuka maṉṉō irā.
1329. May the jewelled lady-love go on quarrelling; may also the night be long enough to conciliate her!

280 1330 ūṭutal kāmattiṟku iṉpam ataṟkuiṉpam kūṭi muyaṅkap peṟiṉ.
1330. The delight of love is the lovers’ quarrel; greater delight is the loving reunion.

– end of kamattuppal end of kamattuppal End of Tirukkural End of Tirukkural