Tirukkural-On Virtue-The Helpmate-Kural 53

53. Illathen illaval maanpaanaal ullathen
illaval maanaak kadai.

If the wife possesses a noble soul, what more does man want?
If she lacks this, what is there in life for him?

This is Valluvar"s balanced and emphatic way of saying that wifely virtues alone make for a happy home. If the wife is virtuous the family has everything, otherwise they have nothing.

A parallel is found in the bible:

' A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones".