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

Posts: 4397 · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:38 am

2.4.6. Wealth without Benefaction

1001
Who fills his house with ample store, enjoying none,
Is dead. Nought with the useless heap is done.
He who does not enjoy the immense riches he has heaped up in his house, is (to be reckoned as) dead, (for) there is nothing achieved (by him).

1002
Who giving nought, opines from wealth all blessing springs,
Degraded birth that doting miser's folly brings.
He who knows that wealth yields every pleasure and yet is so blind as to lead miserly life will be born a demon.

1003
Who lust to heap up wealth, but glory hold not dear,
It burthens earth when on the stage of being they appear.
A burden to the earth are men bent on the acquisition of riches and not (true) fame.

1004
Whom no one loves, when he shall pass away,
What doth he look to leave behind, I pray?
What will the miser who is not liked (by any one) regard as his own (in the world to come) ?

1005
Amid accumulated millions they are poor,
Who nothing give and nought enjoy of all they store.
Those who neither give (to others) nor enjoy (their property) are (truly) destitute, though possessing immense riches.

1006
Their ample wealth is misery to men of churlish heart,
Who nought themselves enjoy, and nought to worthy men impart.
He who enjoys not (his riches) nor relieves the wants of the worthy is a disease to his wealth.

1007
Like woman fair in lonelihood who aged grows,
Is wealth of him on needy men who nought bestows.
The wealth of him who never bestows anything on the destitute is like a woman of beauty growing old without a husband.

1008
When he whom no man loves exults in great prosperity,
'Tis as when fruits in midmost of the town some poisonous tree.
The wealth of him who is disliked (by all) is like the fruit-bearing of the etty tree in the midst of a town.

1009
Who love abandon, self-afflict, and virtue's way forsake
To heap up glittering wealth, their hoards shall others take.
Strangers will inherit the riches that have been acquired without regard for friendship, comfort and charity.

1010
'Tis as when rain cloud in the heaven grows day,
When generous wealthy man endures brief poverty.
The short-lived poverty of those who are noble and rich is like the clouds becoming poor (for a while).

2.4.7. Shame

1011
To shrink abashed from evil deed is 'generous shame';
Other is that of bright-browed one of virtuous fame.
True modesty is the fear of (evil) deeds; all other modesty is (simply) the bashfulness of virtuous maids.

1012
Food, clothing, and other things alike all beings own;
By sense of shame the excellence of men is known.
Food, clothing and the like are common to all men but modesty is peculiar to the good.

1013
All spirits homes of flesh as habitation claim,
And perfect virtue ever dwells with shame.
As the body is the abode of the spirit, so the excellence of modesty is the abode of perfection.

1014
And is not shame an ornament to men of dignity?
Without it step of stately pride is piteous thing to see.
Is not the modesty ornament of the noble ? Without it, their haughtiness would be a pain (to others).

1015
As home of virtuous shame by all the world the men are known,
Who feel ashamed for others, guilt as for their own.
The world regards as the abode of modesty him who fear his own and other's guilt.

1016
Unless the hedge of shame inviolate remain,
For men of lofty soul the earth's vast realms no charms retain.
The great make modesty their barrier (of defence) and not the wide world.

1017
The men of modest soul for shame would life an offering make,
But ne'er abandon virtuous shame for life's dear sake.
The modest would rather lose their life for the sake of modesty than lose modesty for the sake of life.

1018
Though know'st no shame, while all around asha med must be:
Virtue will shrink away ashamed of thee!
Virtue is likely to forsake him who shamelessly does what others are ashamed of.

1019
'Twill race consume if right observance fail;
'Twill every good consume if shamelessness prevail.
Want of manners injures one's family; but want of modesty injures one's character.

1020
'Tis as with strings a wooden puppet apes life's functions, when
Those void of shame within hold intercourse with men.
The actions of those who are without modesty at heart are like those of puppet moved by a string.

2.4.8. The Way of Maintaining the Family

1021
Who says 'I'll do my work, nor slack my hand',
His greatness, clothed with dignity supreme, shall stand.
There is no higher greatness than that of one saying. I will not cease in my effort (to raise my family).

1022
The manly act and knowledge full, when these combine
In deed prolonged, then lengthens out the race's line.
One's family is raised by untiring perseverance in both effort and wise contrivances.

1023
'I'll make my race renowned,' if man shall say,
With vest succinct the goddess leads the way.
The Deity will clothe itself and appear before him who resolves on raising his family.

1024
Who labours for his race with unremitting pain,
Without a thought spontaneously, his end will gain.
Those who are prompt in their efforts (to better their family) need no deliberation, such efforts will of themselves succeed.

1025
With blameless life who seeks to build his race's fame,
The world shall circle him, and kindred claim.
People will eagerly seek the friendship of the prosperous soul who has raised his family without foul means.

1026
Of virtuous manliness the world accords the praise
To him who gives his powers, the house from which he sprang to raise.
A man's true manliness consists in making himself the head and benefactor of his family.

1027
The fearless hero bears the brunt amid the warrior throng;
Amid his kindred so the burthen rests upon the strong.
Like heroes in the battle-field, the burden (of protection etc.) is borne by those who are the most efficient in a family.

1028
Wait for no season, when you would your house uprear;
'Twill perish, if you wait supine, or hold your honour dear.
As a family suffers by (one's) indolence and false dignity there is to be so season (good or bad) to those who strive to raise their family.

1029
Is not his body vase that various sorrows fill,
Who would his household screen from every ill?
Is it only to suffering that his body is exposed who undertakes to preserve his family from evil ?

1030
When trouble the foundation saps the house must fall,
If no strong hand be nigh to prop the tottering wall.
If there are none to prop up and maintain a family (in distress), it will fall at the stroke of the axe of misfortune.