The Kural

A is the starting-point of the world of sound: even so is the Great Original the starting-point of all that exists.

Of what avail is all thy learning if thou worship not the holy feet of Him of the perfect intelligence?

Whoso taketh refuge in the sacred feet of Him whose walk is among flowers, his days will be many upon the earth.

Behold the men who cleave unto the feet of Him who is beyond preference and beyond aversion: the ills of life touch them not ever.

Behold the men who sing earnestly the praises of the Lord: they will be freed from the pain-engendering fruits of action both good and evil.

Behold the men who follow the righteous ways of Him who hath burned away the desires of the five senses: their days will be many upon the earth.

They alone escape from sorrow who take refuge in the feet of Him who hath no equal.

The stormy seas of wealth and sense delights cannot be traversed except by those who cling to the feet of the Sage who is the Ocean of Righteousness.

Worthless indeed like the organs of sense which do not perceive is the head that boweth not at the feet of Him who is endowed with the eight attributes.

They alone cross the ocean of births and deaths who take refuge in the feet of the Lord: the others traverse it not.

We know of no blessing so great as the begetting of children that are endowed with understanding.

Behold the man whose children bear an unstained character: no evil will touch him in any of his seven reincarnations.

Children are the veritable riches of a man: for they pass to him by their own acts all the merits that they acquire.

Sweeter verily than ambrosia is the plain soup bespattered by the tender hands of one’s own children.

The touch of children is the delight of the body: the delight of the ear is the hearing of their speech.

The flute is sweet and the guitar dulcet: so say they who have not heard the babbling speech of their little ones.

What is the duty of the father to his son? It is to make him worthy to sit in the front rank in the assembly.

To find oneself eclipsed in intelligence by one’s children is a delight to all the world.

Great is the joy of the mother when a male child is born unto her: but greater far is her delight when she heareth him called worthy.

What is the duty of the son to his father? It is to make the world ask, For what austerities of his hath he been blessed with such a son?

Where is the bar that can close in the gates of love? The gentle teardrops of lovers’ eyes are sure to proclaim its presence.

Those that love not live only for themselves: as to those that love, their very bones are for others’ occasions.

They say it is to taste again of love that the soul hath consented once more to be encased in bone.

Love maketh the heart tender towards all: and tenderness yieldeth that priceless treasure called friendship.

The blessing of the blessed, they say, is only the reward of a constant love.

They are fools who say that love is for the righteous alone: for even against the evil-minded love is the only ally for a man.

Behold how the sun burneth the boneless worm: even so doth Righteousness burn the man that doth not love.

Behold the man that loveth not: he will know prosperity only when the sapless tree of the desert putteth forth leaves.

Of what avail is a lovely outside, if love, the soul’s ornament, hath no place in the heart?

The seat of life is in Love: who hath it not is only a mass of skin-encased bone.

Self-control leadeth unto heaven, but uncontrolled passion is the royal road to endless darkness.

Guard thy self-control as a very treasure: life hath no richer wealth here below.

Behold the man who controlleth his passions consciously and by the right way: wisdom and every other blessing will come unto him.

Behold the man who hath triumphed over his passions and who swerveth not from duty: his form is more imposing than a mountain.

Humility is beautiful in all man: but alone on the rich doth it shine in all its splendour.

Behold the man who can draw in into himself his five senses even as the tortoise doth its limbs: he hath laid up for himself a treasure for all his future births.

Whatever else thou rein not in, rein in thy tongue: for an unbridled tongue leadeth unto grief.

If even one word of thine causeth pain to another, all thy virtue is lost.

The burn caused by fire healeth in its time: but the wound burned in by the tongue remaineth green forever.

Behold the man who hath learned wisdom and whose mind is tranquil and under perfect control: Righteousness pilgrimageth to his home in order to have a look at him.

The crow triumpheth over the owl when it is day: so opportunity is a great thing to the prince who would vanquish his enemy.

To follow closely on the pace of Time: that is the cord that will bind Fortune to thee firmly.

Where is the thing called impossible if thou start on thy enterprise with a knowledge of the right season and employ the proper means?

Thou canst conquer even the whole world if thou choose the proper time and the proper objectives.

Those that are intent on conquests will be quietly watching their opportunity: they will know neither confusion nor hurry.

The ram steppeth back before it delivereth the crushing blow: even such is the inaction of the man of energy.

The wise show not their anger on the spot: they will nurse it within their hearts and wait for their opportunity.

Bend down before thy adversaries till the day of their decline: when that day is come thou mayest easily throw them down headlong.

When thou hast got an unusual chance, hesitate not but straightway attempt even the impossible.

When the time is against thee feign inaction like the stork: but when the tide is on, strike with the swiftness of its souse.