Tirukkural-On Virtue-Family Life-Kural 48

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Arrin olukki aranilukka ilvalkkai
Norparin noanmai utaittu

A virtuous householder who supports all other orders in their state,
Has more penance in him, than all the hermits.

This Kural only emphasises the idea stated already by Valluvar in earlier couplets. One is reminded in this context of the 'holy householder hermit, Joseph', described effectively in the Tamil Classic, Thembavani by that great Tamil poet, Veeramamunivar, (Rev. Fr. C J Beschi).

The term 'Aaatrin Oluki' would mean that the householder who performs his duty well and lives a life of virtue, helps all other orders to live their lives in virtue. And parallelly the term 'Aranizaka' would imply exactly what is intended in the following Maduraikanchi line.

Ara neri pizayaathaatrin oluki (Madhuraikanchi-500)

The total idea, therefore, is that if a householder lives a life of love and virtue and helps others also to live their ordered lives appropriately, there is no need for anything more by way of the penance of hermits for him, for he would have reached the highest level of penance in the natural course itself.