Thirukkural-On Virtue-Control Of Temper-Kural 310

Those, who have yielded to anger and to consequent evils, are like the dead,While those who have reined in anger, are like the good ascetics.

In this couplet the poet's use of the word "irandhaar".in the first place of the first line is intriguing but its interpretation as 'those who have succumbed to rage' is clear from the balancing word "thurandhaar" in the next line. Those who have succumbed to rage are like the dead while those who have kept anger in check are like good ascetics.

Biblical support to this idea is found in the following statement:

'He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his psirit than he that taketh the city'.

(Proverbs 16:32)

It was in the same spirit that Talmud said 'Who is strong? He who subdues his passion'.