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

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:25 pm

1.2.20 Renown

231
See that thy life the praise of generous gifts obtain;
Save this for living man exists no real gain.
Give to the poor and live with praise. There is no greater profit to man than that.

232
The speech of all that speak agrees to crown
The men that give to those that ask, with fair renown.
Whatsoever is spoken in the world will abide as praise upon that man who gives alms to the poor.

233
Save praise alone that soars on high,
Nought lives on earth that shall not die.
There is nothing that stands forth in the world imperishable, except fame, exalted in solitary greatness.

234
If men do virtuous deeds by world-wide ample glory crowned,
The heavens will cease to laud the sage for other gifts renowned.
If one has acquired extensive fame within the limits of this earth, the world of the Gods will no longer praise those sages who have attained that world.

235
Loss that is gain, and death of life's true bliss fulfilled,
Are fruits which only wisdom rare can yield.
Prosperity to the body of fame, resulting in poverty to the body of flesh and the stability to the former arising from the death of the latter, are achievable only by the wise.

236
If man you walk the stage, appear adorned with glory's grace;
Save glorious you can shine, 'twere better hide your face.
If you are born (in this world), be born with qualities conductive to fame. From those who are destitute of them it will be better not to be born.

237
If you your days will spend devoid of goodly fame,
When men despise, why blame them? You've yourself to blame.
Why do those who cannot live with praise, grieve those who despise them, instead of grieving themselves for their own inability.

238
Fame is virtue's child, they say; if, then,
You childless live, you live the scorn of men.
Not to beget fame will be esteemed a disgrace by the wise in this world.

239
The blameless fruits of fields' increase will dwindle down,
If earth the burthen bear of men without renown.
The ground which supports a body without fame will diminish in its rich produce.

240
Who live without reproach, them living men we deem;
Who live without renown, live not, though living men they seem.
Those live who live without disgrace. Those who live without fame live not.

1.3 Ascetic Virtue
1.3.1. The Possession of Benevolence

241
Wealth 'mid wealth is wealth 'kindliness';
Wealth of goods the vilest too possess.
The wealth of kindness is wealth of wealth, in as much as the wealth of property is possessed by the basest of men.

242
The law of 'grace' fulfil, by methods good due trial made,
Though many systems you explore, this is your only aid.
(Stand) in the good path, consider, and be kind. Even considering according to the conflicting tenets of the different sects, kindness will be your best aid, (in the acquisition of heavenly bliss.)

243
They in whose breast a 'gracious kindliness' resides,
See not the gruesome world, where darkness drear abides.
They will never enter the world of darkness and wretchedness whose minds are the abode of kindness.

244
Who for undying souls of men provides with gracious zeal,
In his own soul the dreaded guilt of sin shall never feel.
(The wise) say that the evils, which his soul would dread, will never come upon the man who exercises kindness and protects the life (of other creatures)

245
The teeming earth's vast realm, round which the wild winds blow,
Is witness, men of 'grace' no woeful want shall know.
This great rich earth over which the wind blows, is a witness that sorrow never comes upon the kind-hearted.

246
Gain of true wealth oblivious they eschew,
Who 'grace' forsake, and graceless actions do.
(The wise) say that those who neglect kindness and practise cruelties, neglected virtue (in their former birth), and forgot (the sorrows which they must suffer.)

247
As to impoverished men this present world is not;
The 'graceless' in you world have neither part nor lot.
As this world is not for those who are without wealth, so that world is not for those who are without kindness.

248
Who lose the flower of wealth, when seasons change, again may bloom;
Who lose 'benevolence', lose all; nothing can change their doom.
Those who are without wealth may, at some future time, become prosperous; those who are destitute of kindness are utterly destitute; for them there is no change.

249
When souls unwise true wisdom's mystic vision see,
The 'graceless' man may work true works of charity.
If you consider, the virtue of him who is without kindness is like the perception of the true being by him who is without wisdom.

250
When weaker men you front with threat'ning brow,
Think how you felt in presence of some stronger foe.
When a man is about to rush upon those who are weaker than himself, let him remember how he has stood (trembling) before those who are stronger than himself.