Tirukkural-On Virtue-The Renunciation-Kural 348

Talaippattaar theerath turandhaar mayangi
valaipattaar matrai yavar

Those who have renounced in full, attain salvation;
the rest are ensnared in delusions.

Full renouncement leads to salvation; partial efforts are nothing but delusions.

Rajaji would explain the idea of full renunciation as the giving up of even the thought of things to be desired. Only those, who have thus renounced wholly, will save themselves. The others are deluded and are still entangled in the net of births, presumably, awaiting deliverance.

The idea is appropriately expressed by Kambar in the following lines:

“Irapennum meymaiyai immaiyaavarkkum
marapenum adhanirkaedu matrundao
Thurapenum thepame thunai seiyaavidil
Pirapenum perungadal pizaika laakumao"(Kambaramayanam-Manthiram 21)