The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 37
CHAPTER 37
THE KILLING OF DESIRE
361. Desire is the seed that yieldeth unto every soul, and always, a never-failing crop of births.
362. If thou must needs long for anything, long for freedom from reincarnation : and that freedom shall come to thee if thou long to conquer longing.
363. There is no greater wealth here below than desirelessness : and wherever thou goest thou canst find no treasure that equalleth it.
364. Purity is nought but freedom from desire : and this freedom is achieved by yearning for perfect truthfulness.
365. It is those that have conquered their desire that are called the liberated ones: the others appear to be free but they are verily in bondage.
366. If thou love righteousness, flee from desire : for desire is a snare and a disappointment.
367. If a man cutteth off utterly all his desires, salvation shall come to him by any path that he commandeth to it.
368. He that hath no desires hath no grief: but ills on ills descend on the man that hankereth after things.
369. Even here a man shall have everlasting joy if he killeth that greatest misery of all, desire.
370. Desire is never filled: but if a man giveth it up he attaineth perfection even at that very moment.
HERE ENDETH SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION ii OF PART 1 ENTITLED WISDOM HERE ALSO ENDETH SECTION ii OF PART I ENTITLED THE LIFE OF THE ASCETIC