Penance

Poiyaamai poiyaamai aatrin arampira seiaamai seiaamai nanru.If one speaks the truth and only the truth,He need not seek other virtues. For a man who always speaks the truth, there is no need at all for other virtues. ...

Manathodu vaaymai moliyin thavaththodu Dhaananjey vaarin thalaiIf one is truthful in thought and word, It is better than doing penance and charity. Truthfulness in thought and word is superior to penance and charity. In this Kural ...

Kanaikodidhu yaalkodu sevvidhuaang kanna Vinaipadu paalaal kolalThe arrow that is smooth and straight is cruel,While the crooked 'yal' gives sweet music; Therefore our judgement on things should not be based on appearances but on performance. Men ...

Purankunri kandanaiyaa raenum ahangkunri Mookkir kariyaar udaithu Like the 'Kunri' seed, there are some people who shine red all over,But are inwardly black as the nose of the same seed.Kunri is a small, hard and bright-red seed ...

Patratraem enpaar padirrolukkam etretrenru Eatham palavundh tharum. Hypocritical conduct by people, who say they have renounced the world, Will ultimately entail painful self-denunciation.This Kural obviously queries the worth-whileness, of people making public pretence of...

Vaanuyar thoatram evanseyyum thannenjam Thanari kuttrap padin. Of what avail are the high trappings of sainthood,If In his conscience, one knows his shameful guilt.To his own self if he is not true, what is the use of ...