Tirukkural-On Virtue-The Renunciation-Kural 344

True penance demands total dispossession of oneself; Even a single exception will lead to delusion

Penance begins with complete dispossession of all one's possessions; in trying to make exceptions one only deludes oneself.

Dispossession is definitely the first step to complete renunciation in thought as well; for possession of any kind tends to hold the mind in attachment and resultant delusion. Rajaji would say that there is no real renunciation 'when the mind dwells on what has been externally given up". That is why the Lord Jesus Christ exhorted the young-man, who sought perfection, to sell all he had, give to the poor and follow him.

(Matt. 19:21)

the above four Kurals deal with the severance of all external attachment, while the following Kural deals with the termination of internal attachment, in respect of the mind also.

This Kural reminds one of the elements of the Sankya philosophy of Gunas, propounded by Kapila and which is referred to in detail in chapter 18 of the Gita. Full freedom from all attachment would be a demonstration of Sattvika Guna; attachment to some desires would still be Rajasika and the would ultimately lead to delusion, which is the symptom of Tamasika Guna.