Thirukkural- On Virtue- Penance-Kural-266

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A translation of this couplet on the basis of K M Balasubramaniam's rendering is recorded below:

Only those who do penance could be considered as doing their duty; The others who give way to their desires, fall a prey to blighting vice.

In this kural the poet stresses the importance of penance as a normal duty of persons, who aspire to any degree of righteousness. It is also possible to interpret it to mean that those who perform the duties of their obligation correctly and without attachment to results in the Gita way, automatically do penance.

The following passages of Tamil literature lend support to Valluvar's ideas in this regard:

'Thalaiyaar thankarumam seyvaar'

(Naaladi-52)

Thavathiram poondoan thanmael vaitha
Avathiram ozikenravan vayin uraithapin

(Manimekalai-7; 13-14)

The relevant passage in the Gita is as follows:

'The well-poised (who perform their obligatory duties),
forsaking the fruit of action, attains peace,
born of steadfastness; the unbalanced one,
led by desire, is bound by being attached to the
fruit (of action).

(Gita 5, 12)