TIRUKKURAL, Mysticism, reading, forums, Numerology, Sun Signs, Divination

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 6:25 am

1.2.9 The Possession of Self-restraint

121.
Control of self does man conduct to bliss th' immortals share;
Indulgence leads to deepest night, and leaves him there.
Self-control will place (a man) among the Gods; the want of it will drive (him) into the thickest darkness (of hell).

122.
Guard thou as wealth the power of self-control;
Than this no greater gain to living soul!
Let self-control be guarded as a treasure; there is no greater source of good for man than that.

123.
If versed in wisdom's lore by virtue's law you self restrain.
Your self-repression known will yield you glory's gain.
Knowing that self-control is knowledge, if a man should control himself, in the prescribed course, such self-control will bring him distinction among the wise.

124.
In his station, all unswerving, if man self subdue,
Greater he than mountain proudly rising to the view.
More lofty than a mountain will be the greatness of that man who without swerving from his domestic state, controls himself.

125.
To all humility is goodly grace; but chief to them
With fortune blessed, -'tis fortune's diadem.
Humility is good in all; but especially in the rich it is (the excellence of) higher riches.

126.
Like tortoise, who the five restrains
In one, through seven world bliss obtains.
Should one throughout a single birth, like a tortoise keep in his five senses, the fruit of it will prove a safe-guard to him throughout the seven-fold births.

127.
Whate'er they fail to guard, o'er lips men guard should keep;
If not, through fault of tongue, they bitter tears shall weep.
Whatever besides you leave unguarded, guard your tongue; otherwise errors of speech and the consequent misery will ensue.

128.
Though some small gain of good it seem to bring,
The evil word is parent still of evil thing.
If a man's speech be productive of a single evil, all the good by him will be turned into evil.

129.
In flesh by fire inflamed, nature may thoroughly heal the sore;
In soul by tongue inflamed, the ulcer healeth never more.
The wound which has been burnt in by fire may heal, but a wound burnt in by the tongue will never heal.

130.
Who learns restraint, and guards his soul from wrath,
Virtue, a timely aid, attends his path.
Virtue, seeking for an opportunity, will come into the path of that man who, possessed of learning and self-control, guards himself against anger.

1.2.10 The Possession of Decorum

131.
'Decorum' gives especial excellence; with greater care
'Decorum' should men guard than life, which all men share.
Propriety of conduct leads to eminence, it should therefore be preserved more carefully than life.

132.
Searching, duly watching, learning, 'decorum' still we find;
Man's only aid; toiling, guard thou this with watchful mind.
Let propriety of conduct be laboriously preserved and guarded; though one know and practise and excel in many virtues, that will be an eminent aid.

133.
'Decorum's' true nobility on earth;
'Indecorum's' issue is ignoble birth.
Propriety of conduct is true greatness of birth, and impropriety will sink into a mean birth.

134.
Though he forget, the Brahman may regain his Vedic lore;
Failing in 'decorum due,' birthright's gone for evermore.
A Brahman though he should forget the Vedas may recover it by reading; but, if he fail in propriety of conduct even his high birth will be destroyed.

135.
The envious soul in life no rich increase of blessing gains,
So man of 'due decorum' void no dignity obtains.
Just as the envious man will be without wealth, so will the man of destitute of propriety of conduct be without greatness.

136.
The strong of soul no jot abate of 'strict decorum's' laws,
Knowing that 'due decorum's' breach foulest disgrace will cause.
Those firm in mind will not slacken in their observance of the proprieties of life, knowing, as they do, the misery that flows from the transgression from them.

137.
'Tis source of dignity when 'true decorum' is preserved;
Who break 'decorum's' rules endure e'en censures undeserved.
From propriety of conduct men obtain greatness; from impropriety comes insufferable disgrace.

138.
'Decorum true' observed a seed of good will be;
'Decorum's breach' will sorrow yield eternally.
Propriety of conduct is the seed of virtue; impropriety will ever cause sorrow.

139.
It cannot be that they who 'strict decorum's' law fulfil,
E'en in forgetful mood, should utter words of ill.
Those who study propriety of conduct will not speak evil, even forgetfully.

140.
Who know not with the world in harmony to dwell,
May many things have learned, but nothing well.
Those who know not how to act agreeably to the world, though they have learnt many things, are still ignorant.

1.2.11 Not coveting another's Wife

141
Who laws of virtue and possession's rights have known,
Indulge no foolish love of her by right another's own.
The folly of desiring her who is the property of another will not be found in those who know (the attributes of) virtue and (the rights of) property.

142
No fools, of all that stand from virtue's pale shut out,
Like those who longing lurk their neighbour's gate without.
Among all those who stand on the outside of virtue, there are no greater fools than those who stand outside their neighbour's door.

143
They're numbered with the dead, e'en while they live, -how otherwise?
With wife of sure confiding friend who evil things devise.
Certainly they are no better than dead men who desire evil towards the wife of those who undoubtingly confide in them.

144
How great soe'er they be, what gain have they of life,
Who, not a whit reflecting, seek a neighbour's wife.
However great one may be, what does it avail if, without at all considering his guilt, he goes unto the wife of another ?

145
'Mere triflel' saying thus, invades the home, so he ensures.
A gain of guilt that deathless aye endures.
He who thinks lightly of going into the wife of another acquires guilt that will abide with him imperishably and for ever.

146
Who home ivades, from him pass nevermore,
Hatred and sin, fear, foul disgrace; these four.
Hatred, sin, fear, disgrace; these four will never leave him who goes in to his neighbour's wife.

147
Who sees the wife, another's own, with no desiring eye
In sure domestic bliss he dwelleth ever virtuously.
He who desires not the womanhood of her who should walk according to the will of another will be praised as a virtuous house-holder.

148
Manly excellence, that looks not on another's wife,
Is not virtue merely, 'tis full 'propriety' of life.
That noble manliness which looks not at the wife of another is the virtue and dignity of the great.

149
Who 're good indeed, on earth begirt by ocean's gruesome tide?
The men who touch not her that is another's bride.
Is it asked, "who are those who shall obtain good in this world surrounded by the terror-producing sea ?" Those who touch not the shoulder of her who belongs to another.

150
Though virtue's bounds he pass, and evil deeds hath wrought;
At least, 'tis good if neighbour's wife he covet not.
Though a man perform no virtuous deeds and commit (every) vice, it will be well if he desire not the womanhood of her who is within the limit (of the house) of another.