World Colleges Information

Chapter. 16. The Possession of Patience, Forbearance
Kural-151
As earth bears up the men who delve into her breast,
To bear with scornful men of virtues is the best.
Meaning : To bear with those who revile us, just as the earth bears up those who dig it, is the first of virtues.
Kural-152
Forgiving trespasses is good always;
Forgetting them hath even higher praise;
Meaning : Bear with reproach even when you can retaliate; but to forget it will be still better than that.
Kural-153
The sorest poverty is bidding guest unfed depart;
The mightiest might to bear with men of foolish heart.
Meaning : To neglect hospitality is poverty of poverty. To bear with the ignorant is might of might.
Kural-154
Seek'st thou honour never tarnished to retain;
So must thou patience, guarding evermore, maintain.
Meaning : If you desire that greatness should never leave, you preserve in your conduct the exercise of patience.
Kural-155
Who wreak their wrath as worthless are despised;
Who patiently forbear as gold are prized.
Meaning : (The wise) will not at all esteem the resentful. They will esteem the patient just as the gold which they lay up with care.
Kural-156
Who wreak their wrath have pleasure for a day;
Who bear have praise till earth shall pass away.
Meaning : The pleasure of the resentful continues for a day. The praise of the patient will continue until (the final destruction of) the world.
Kural-157
Though others work thee ill, thus shalt thou blessing reap;
Grieve for their sin, thyself from vicious action keep!
Meaning : Though others inflict injuries on you, yet compassionating the evil (that will come upon them) it will be well not to do them anything contrary to virtue.
Kural-158
With overweening pride when men with injuries assail,
By thine own righteous dealing shalt thou mightily prevail.
Meaning : Let a man by patience overcome those who through pride commit excesses.
Kural-159
They who transgressors' evil words endure
With patience, are as stern ascetics pure.
Meaning : Those who bear with the uncourteous speech of the insolent are as pure as the ascetics.
Kural-160
Though 'great' we deem the men that fast and suffer pain,
Who others' bitter words endure, the foremost place obtain.
Meaning : Those who endure abstinence from food are great, next to those who endure the uncourteous speech of others.