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

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:49 am

2.3.10. Unreal Friendship

821
Anvil where thou shalt smitten be, when men occasion find,
Is friendship's form without consenting mind.
The friendship of those who behave like friends without inward affection is a weapon that may be thrown when a favourable opportunity presents itself.

822
Friendship of those who seem our kin, but are not really kind.
Will change from hour to hour like woman's mind.
The friendship of those who seem to be friends while they are not, will change like the love of women.

823
To heartfelt goodness men ignoble hardly may attain,
Although abundant stores of goodly lore they gain.
Though (one's) enemies may have mastered many good books, it will be impossible for them to become truly loving at heart.

824
'Tis fitting you should dread dissemblers' guile,
Whose hearts are bitter while their faces smile.
One should fear the deceitful who smile sweetly with their face but never love with their heart.

825
When minds are not in unison, 'its never; just,
In any words men speak to put your trust.
In nothing whatever is it proper to rely on the words of those who do not love with their heart.

826
Though many goodly words they speak in friendly tone,
The words of foes will speedily be known.
Though (one's) foes may utter good things as though they were friends, once will at once understand (their evil, import).

827
To pliant speech from hostile lips give thou no ear;
'Tis pliant bow that show the deadly peril near!
Since the bending of the bow bespeaks evil, one should not accept (as good) the humiliating speeches of one's foes.

828
In hands that worship weapon ten hidden lies;
Such are the tears that fall from foeman's eyes.
A weapon may be hid in the very hands with which (one's) foes adore (him) (and) the tears they shed are of the same nature.

829
'Tis just, when men make much of you, and then despise,
To make them smile, and slap in friendship's guise.
It is the duty of kings to affect great love but make it die (inwardly); as regard those foes who shew them great friendship but despise them (in their heart).

830
When time shall come that foes as friends appear,
Then thou, to hide a hostile heart, a smiling face may'st wear.
When one's foes begin to affect friendship, one should love them with one's looks, and, cherishing no love in the heart, give up (even the former).

2.3.11. Folly

831
What one thing merits folly's special name.
Letting gain go, loss for one's own to claim!
Folly is one (of the chief defects); it is that which (makes one) incur loss and forego gain.

832
'Mid follies chiefest folly is to fix your love
On deeds which to your station unbefitting prove.
The greatest folly is that which leads one to take delight in doing what is forbidden.

833
Ashamed of nothing, searching nothing out, of loveless heart,
Nought cherishing, 'tis thus the fool will play his part.
Shamelessness indifference (to what must be sought after), harshness, and aversion for everything (that ought to be desired) are the qualities of the fool.

834
The sacred law he reads and learns, to other men expounds,-
Himself obeys not; where can greater fool be found?
There are no greater fools than he who, though he has read and understood (a great deal) and even taught it to others, does not walk according to his own teaching.

835
The fool will merit hell in one brief life on earth,
In which he entering sinks through sevenfold round of birth.
A fool can procure in a single birth a hell into which he may enter and suffer through all the seven births.

836
When fool some task attempts with uninstructed pains,
It fails; nor that alone, himself he binds with chains.
If the fool, who knows not how to act undertakes a work, he will (certainly) fail. (But) is it all ? He will even adorn himself with fetters.

837
When fools are blessed with fortune's bounteous store,
Their foes feed full, their friends are prey to hunger sore.
If a fool happens to get an immense fortune, his neighbours will enjoy it while his relations starve.

838
When folly's hand grasps wealth's increase, 'twill be
As when a mad man raves in drunken glee.
A fool happening to possess something is like the intoxication of one who is (already) giddy.

839
Friendship of fools is very pleasant thing,
Parting with them will leave behind no sting.
The friendship between fools is exceedingly delightful (to each other): for at parting there will be nothing to cause them pain.

840
Like him who seeks his couch with unwashed feet,
Is fool whose foot intrudes where wise men meet.
The appearance of a fool in an assembly of the learned is like placing (one's) unwashed feet on a bed.

2.3.12. Ignorance

841
Want of knowledge, 'mid all wants the sorest want we deem;
Want of other things the world will not as want esteem.
The want of wisdom is the greatest of all wants; but that of wealth the world will not regard as such.

842
The gift of foolish man, with willing heart bestowed, is nought,
But blessing by receiver's penance bought.
(The cause of) a fool cheerfully giving (something) is nothing else but the receiver's merit (in a former birth).

843
With keener anguish foolish men their own hearts wring,
Than aught that even malice of their foes can bring.
The suffering that fools inflict upon themselves is hardly possible even to foes.

844
What is stupidity? The arrogance that cries,
'Behold, we claim the glory of the wise.'
What is called want of wisdom is the vanity which says, "We are wise".

845
If men what they have never learned assume to know,
Upon their real learning's power a doubt 'twill throw.
Fools pretending to know what has not been read (by them) will rouse suspicion even as to what they have thoroughly mastered.

846
Fools are they who their nakedness conceal,
And yet their faults unveiled reveal.
Even to cover one's nakedness would be folly, if (one's) faults were not covered (by forsaking them).

847
From out his soul who lets the mystic teachings die,
Entails upon himself abiding misery.
The fool who neglects precious counsel does, of his own accord, a great injury to himself.

848
Advised, he heeds not; of himself knows nothing wise;
This man's whole life is all one plague until he dies.
The fool will not perform (his duties) even when advised nor ascertain them himself; such a soul is a burden (to the earth) till it departs (from the body).

849
That man is blind to eyes that will not see who knowledge shows;-
The blind man still in his blind fashion knows.
One who would teach a fool will (simply) betray his folly; and the fool would (still) think himself "wise in his own conceit".

850
Who what the world affirms as false proclaim,
O'er all the earth receive a demon's name.
He who denies the existence of what the world believes in will be regarded as a demon on earth.