Tirukkural-On Virtue-Fear of Evil-Kural 208

Just as the shadows follow the feet wherever they go, The effect of evil follows the evil-doer, relentlessly

Those who think, speak and do evil cannot escape Nemesis, which is bound to overtake them.

'Vinai vinaithavan vinai arupaan' is a Tamil proverb, which is parallel to the English one, 'He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind'.The bible too has the parallel in the following line;

'Evil pursueth sinners'

(Proverbs 13:21).

The shadow idea has been used in other Sangam literature thus:
'Selvazhichch selvazhi mainilaltr poala'

(Aganaanooru: 49-15)