World Colleges Information

Chapter. 4. Assertion of the Strength of Virtue
Kural-31
It yields distinction, yields prosperity; what gain
Greater than virtue can a living man obtain?
Meaning : Virtue will confer heaven and wealth; what greater source of happiness can man possess ?
Kural-32
No greater gain than virtue aught can cause;
No greater loss than life oblivious of her laws.
Meaning : There can be no greater source of good than (the practice of) virtue; there can be no greater source of evil than the forgetfulness of it.
Kural-33
To finish virtue's work with ceaseless effort strive,
What way thou may'st, where'er thou see'st the work may thrive.
Meaning : As much as possible, in every way, incessantly practise virtue.
Kural-34
Spotless be thou in mind! This only merits virtue's name;
All else, mere pomp of idle sound, no real worth can claim.
Meaning : Let him who does virtuous deeds be of spotless mind; to that extent is virtue; all else is vain show.
Kural-35
'Tis virtue when, his footsteps sliding not through envy, wrath,
Lust, evil speech-these four, man onwards moves in ordered path.
Meaning : That conduct is virtue which is free from these four things, viz, malice, desire, anger and bitter speech.
Kural-36
Do deeds of virtue now. Say not, 'To-morrow we'll be wise';
Thus, when thou diest, shalt thou find a help that never dies.
Meaning : Defer not virtue to another day; receive her now; and at the dying hour she will be your undying friend.
Kural-37
Needs not in words to dwell on virtue's fruits: compare
The man in litter borne with them that toiling bear!
Meaning : The fruit of virtue need not be described in books; it may be inferred from seeing the bearer of a palanquin and the rider therein.
Kural-38
If no day passing idly, good to do each day you toil,
A stone it will be to block the way of future days of moil.
Meaning : If one allows no day to pass without some good being done, his conduct will be a stone to block up the passage to other births.
Kural-39
What from virtue floweth, yieldeth dear delight;
All else extern, is void of glory's light.
Meaning : Only that pleasure which flows from domestic virtue is pleasure; all else is not pleasure, and it is without praise.
Kural-40
'Virtue' sums the things that should be done;
'Vice' sums the things that man should shun.
Meaning : That is virtue which each ought to do, and that is vice which each should shun.