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

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:36 am

2.4.3. Greatness

971
The light of life is mental energy; disgrace is his
Who says, 'I 'ill lead a happy life devoid of this.'
One's light is the abundance of one's courage; one's darkness is the desire to live destitute of such (a state of mind.)

972
All men that live are one in circumstances of birth;
Diversities of works give each his special worth.
All human beings agree as regards their birth but differ as regards their characteristics, because of the different qualities of their actions.

973
The men of lofty line, whose souls are mean, are never great
The men of lowly birth, when high of soul, are not of low estate.
Though (raised) above, the base cannot become great; though (brought) low, the great cannot become base.

974
Like single-hearted women, greatness too,
Exists while to itself is true.
Even greatness, like a woman's chastity, belongs only to him who guards himself.

975
The man endowed with greatness true,
Rare deeds in perfect wise will do.
(Though reduced) the great will be able to perform, in the proper way, deeds difficult (for others to do).

976
'As votaries of the truly great we will ourselves enroll,'
Is thought that enters not the mind of men of little soul.
It is never in the nature of the base to seek the society of the great and partake of their nature.

977
Whene'er distinction lights on some unworthy head,
Then deeds of haughty insolence are bred.
Even nobility of birth, wealth and learning, if in (the possession of) the base, will (only) produce everincreasing pride.

978
Greatness humbly bends, but littleness always
Spreads out its plumes, and loads itself with praise.
The great will always humble himself; but the mean will exalt himself in self-admiration.

979
Greatness is absence of conceit; meanness, we deem,
Riding on car of vanity supreme.
Freedom from conceit is (the nature of true) greatness; (while) obstinacy therein is (that of) meanness.

980
Greatness will hide a neighbour's shame;
Meanness his faults to all the world proclaim.
The great hide the faults of others; the base only divulge them.

2.4.4. Perfectness

981
All goodly things are duties to the men, they say
Who set themselves to walk in virtue's perfect way.
It is said that those who are conscious of their duty and behave with a perfect goodness will regard as natural all that is good.

982
The good of inward excellence they claim,
The perfect men; all other good is only good in name.
The only delight of the perfect is that of their goodness; all other (sensual) delights are not to be included among any (true) delights.

983
Love, modesty, beneficence, benignant grace,
With truth, are pillars five of perfect virtue's resting-place.
Affection, fear (of sin), benevolence, favour and truthfulness; these are the five pillars on which perfect goodness rests.

984
The type of 'penitence' is virtuous good that nothing slays;
To speak no ill of other men is perfect virtue's praise.
Penance consists in the goodness that kills not , and perfection in the goodness that tells not others' faults.

985
Submission is the might of men of mighty acts; the sage
With that same weapon stills his foeman's rage.
Stooping (to inferiors) is the strength of those who can accomplish (an undertaking); and that is the weapon with which the great avert their foes.

986
What is perfection's test? The equal mind.
To bear repulse from even meaner men resigned.
The touch-stone of perfection is to receive a defeat even at the hands of one's inferiors.

987
What fruit doth your perfection yield you, say!
Unless to men who work you ill good repay?
Of what avail is perfect goodness if it cannot do pleasing things even to those who have pained (it) ?

988
To soul with perfect virtue's strength endued,
Brings no disgrace the lack of every earthly good.
Poverty is no disgrace to one who abounds in good qualities.

989
Call them of perfect virtue's sea the shore,
Who, though the fates should fail, fail not for evermore.
Those who are said to be the shore of the sea of perfection will never change, though ages may change.

990
The mighty earth its burthen to sustain must cease,
If perfect virtue of the perfect men decrease.
If there is a defect in the character of the perfect, (even) the great world cannot bear (its) burden.

2.4.5. Courtesy

991
Who easy access give to every man, they say,
Of kindly courtesy will learn with ease the way.
If one is easy of access to all, it will be easy for one to obtain the virtue called goodness.

992
Benevolence and high born dignity,
These two are beaten paths of courtesy.
Affectionateness and birth in a good family, these two constitute what is called a proper behaviour to all.

993
Men are not one because their members seem alike to outward view;
Similitude of kindred quality makes likeness true.
Resemblance of bodies is no resemblance of souls; true resemblance is the resemblance of qualities that attract.

994
Of men of fruitful life, who kindly benefits dispense,
The world unites to praise the 'noble excellence.'
The world applauds the character of those whose usefulness results from their equity and charity.

995
Contempt is evil though in sport. They who man's nature know,
E'en in their wrath, a courteous mind will show.
Reproach is painful to one even in sport; those (therefore) who know the nature of others exhibit (pleasing) qualities even when they are hated.

996
The world abides; for 'worthy' men its weight sustain.
Were it not so, 'twould fall to dust again.
The (way of the) world subsists by contact with the good; if not, it would bury itself in the earth and perish.

997
Though sharp their wit as file, as blocks they must remain,
Whose souls are void of 'courtesy humane'.
He who is destitute of (true) human qualities (only) resembles a tree, though he may possess the sharpness of a file.

998
Though men with all unfriendly acts and wrongs assail,
'Tis uttermost disgrace in 'courtesy' to fail.
It is wrong (for the wise) not to exhibit (good) qualities even towards those who bearing no friendship (for them) do only what is hateful.

999
To him who knows not how to smile in kindly mirth,
Darkness in daytime broods o'er all the vast and mighty earth.
To those who cannot rejoice, the wide world is buried darkness even in (broad) day light.

1000
Like sweet milk soured because in filthy vessel poured,
Is ample wealth in churlish man's unopened coffers stored.
The great wealth obtained by one who has no goodness will perish like pure milk spoilt by the impurity of the vessel.