Tirukkural-Kural-49

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49. Aranenap pattadhe ilvaalkkai; akthum
piranpalippadhu illaayin nanru.

Family life is real virtue; it will be excellent too,
If it gives no room for adverse criticism.

The idea here is that family life without blemish is 'Dharma', par excellance.

Illaramalladhu Nallaramandru

There is a controversy between Parimelalagar and Manakudavar in the interpretation of the word 'Akthum'. The former would say this refers to ascetic life, while the latter considers it as an emphatic reference to domestic life itself. As this chapter deals fully with domestic life, Manakudavar"s interpretation is more appropriate and has been adopted here, as by most other commentators and translators.