The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 3

by Thiruvalluvar

CHAPTER 3

THE GREATNESS OF THOSE WHO HAVE RENOUNCED THE WORLD

21. Behold the men who have renounced sense-enjoyments and live a life of discipline : the scriptures exalt their glory above every other good.

22. Thou canst not measure the greatness of ascetics : thou canst as well count the number of the dead.

23. Behold the men who have weighed this life with the next and have renounced: the earth is made radiant by their greatness.

24. Behold the man whose firm will controlleth his five senses even as the goading hook controlleth the elephant : he is a seed fit for the fields of heaven.

25. The King of the Gods himself, Indra, is witness unto the might of him that hath burned away the five desires.³

26. The great ones are they who can achieve the impossible:^[1] the feeble ones are those who cannot.

27. Behold the man who appreciateth at their true value the sensations of touch and taste and sight and sound and smell :^[2] he will command the world.

28. The scriptures of the world proclaim the greatness of the men of the mighty word.

29. It is impossible to support even for a second the wrath of those who stand on the rock of renunciation.

30. It is saintly men that are to be called Brâhmans: for it is they that have compassion on all life.⁴

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1. i.e. control their senses.
2. i.e. who knows that they are transient and at the same time misleading, and who therefore endeavours to transcend them.