Tirukural/Chapter 14

by Tiruvalluvar

Kural-131
'Decorum' gives especial excellence; with greater care
'Decorum' should men guard than life, which all men share.
Propriety of conduct leads to eminence, it should therefore be preserved more carefully than life.

Kural-132
Searching, duly watching, learning, 'decorum' still we find;
Man's only aid; toiling, guard thou this with watchful mind.
Let propriety of conduct be laboriously preserved and guarded; though one know and practise and excel in many virtues, that will be an eminent aid.

Kural-133
'Decorum's' true nobility on earth;
'Indecorum's' issue is ignoble birth.
Propriety of conduct is true greatness of birth, and impropriety will sink into a mean birth.

Kural-134
Though he forget, the Brahman may regain his Vedic lore;
Failing in 'decorum due,' birthright's gone for evermore.
A Brahman though he should forget the Vedas may recover it by reading; but, if he fail in propriety of conduct even his high birth will be destroyed.

Kural-135
The envious soul in life no rich increase of blessing gains,
So man of 'due decorum' void no dignity obtains.
Just as the envious man will be without wealth, so will the man of destitute of propriety of conduct be without greatness.

Kural-136
The strong of soul no jot abate of 'strict decorum's' laws,
Knowing that 'due decorum's' breach foulest disgrace will cause.
Those firm in mind will not slacken in their observance of the proprieties of life, knowing, as they do, the misery that flows from the transgression from them.

Kural-137
'Tis source of dignity when 'true decorum' is preserved;
Who break 'decorum's' rules endure e'en censures undeserved.
From propriety of conduct men obtain greatness; from impropriety comes insufferable disgrace.

Kural-138
'Decorum true' observed a seed of good will be;
'Decorum's breach' will sorrow yield eternally.
Propriety of conduct is the seed of virtue; impropriety will ever cause sorrow.

Kural-139
It cannot be that they who 'strict decorum's' law fulfil,
E'en in forgetful mood, should utter words of ill.
Those who study propriety of conduct will not speak evil, even forgetfully.

Kural-140
Who know not with the world in harmony to dwell,
May many things have learned, but nothing well.
Those who know not how to act agreeably to the world, though they have learnt many things, are still ignorant.