Tirukural – Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Possession of Virtuous Conduct
Verse 131
It is said that men grow bigger by acts of goodness. Here a small boy is feeding and petting a cat. A second youth is bathing his elderly father. Below a devotee is offering his wages to help build his favorite temple.
You can access the entire text, in Tamil and English here:
Weaver’s Wisdom
Verse 131
Virtuous conduct leads a man to eminent greatness.
Therefore, it should be guarded as more precious than life itself.
Verse 132
In your striving, be mindful to preserve good conduct.
In your deliberations, discover it is your staunchest ally.
Verse 133
Morality is the birthright of high families,
while immoral conduct’s legacy is lowly birth.
Verse 134
If a priest forgets the Vedas, he can relearn them.
But if he falls from virtue, his high birth is forever lost.
Verse 135
Prosperity is not for the envious,
nor is greatness for men of impure conduct.
Verse 136
The firm-minded never slacken in upholding virtuous conduct,
for they know the miseries brought on by such neglect.
Verse 137
By honest conduct one achieves honorable eminence,
while corrupt conduct brings one nothing but blame.
Verse 138
Good conduct is the seed in virtue’s field;
wicked conduct’s harvest is never-ending sorrow.
Verse 139
Men who conduct themselves virtuously
are incapable of voicing harmful words, even forgetfully.
Verse 140
Those who cannot live in harmony with the world,
though they have learned many things, are still ignorant.
One Response to “Tirukural – Chapter 14”
From Our Gurus' Teachings
Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.
December 14th, 2020 at 6:19 pm
“AUM”!.