Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 13 : The Possession of Self-restraint
 

Introductory Note

Humility is one of the Seven Holy Virtues in Christianity. It is modest behavior, selflessness and giving of respect and is called “humilitas” in Latin. It is the opposite of Pride, one of the Seven Deadly Sins [2].

Translation(s)

Control of self, conducts a man to the bliss immortals share. Indulgence leads to deepest night and leave him there.

“To intercourse with gods
Forbearance leads; but passion unrestrained
Its victims, plunged in darkness leaves.”
– translation by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

The idea is expanded in Naladiyar, a later Tamil composition:

“Who knows what should be known, and rule themselves thereby;
Who fear what should be feared;
Who use all faculties to bless the world;
Whose nature joys in all good gains;
Forever free from woes are they!
– Naladiyar, 74

We also are assured that Thiru-valluvar believes that there are immortals and they live in bliss.

Translation(s)

Guard the power of self-control as wealth. To living soul there is no gain greater than this.

 

Translation(s)

If versed in wisdom’s love, you self-restrain by virtue’s law; your self repression, when it becomes knows, will yield you glory’s gain.

 

Translation(s)

In his station, if a man subdues self unswervingly, he is greater than the mountain proudly rising to the view.

Explanation

“One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand on the battlefield.”
- The Buddha

Translation(s)

To all humility is goodly grace, but to those blessed with fortune, it is chief diadem of fortune.

“Though self-control is excellent in all
It most befits the envied state of those
That fortune smiles upon.”
- translation by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

One of the qualities a person having self-restraint is humility. One of the external manifestations of self-restraint is humility.

Humbleness on the part of the affluent is an admirable trait. If a beggar is humble, he cannot help being so."
- Zoroaster, Thus spoke Zoroaster, 82

Translation(s)

One who like tortoise, restrains the five (senses) in one (life or mind). Obtains bliss through seven worlds.

Explanation

Senses are five – seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting & touching. These have to be restrained in one, which can mean either in one life or in one mind. (Is he meaning the 5 gyan or 5 karma indriyas? In the above, I have assumed 5 gyan - viz, eyes, nose, ears, tongue, skin.)

We are assured that Thiru-valluvar accepts belief in seven worlds.

 [The simile of tortoise is used in Gita also].

I need some clarity here. In Hindu literature there desires / attachments to be controlled are five (check). These desires / attachments are- lust (kama), anger / wrath (krodha), greed (lobha), attachment mostly to people but also things (moha), pride (abhimaan / dambha). Does Thiru-valluvar mean these as arising out of the five sense organs? Are these the five sense organs he refers? See Chapter-37 on extirpation of desire.

Translation(s)

Whatever men fail to guard, they should keep guard on lips. If not through fault of tongue, they shall weep bitter tears.

“Though unrestrained all else, restrain thy tongue;
For those degraded by licentious speech
will rue their tongue’s offence.”
- translation by F. W. Ellis

Explanation

Naladiyar, a later Tamil composition says:

“Who open his mouth and speaks unguarded words, his words
Will ceaseless burn his soul. The wise who
ceaseless hear and ponder well
And calmly, never in their wrath
Give utterance to words of fire.”
– Naladiyar 63

"What is the good of being ready with tongue?. They who encounter men with smartness of speech for the most part procure themselves hatred."
- Confucius, Book 5, Chapter 4

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles." - Solomon, Bible, Proverbs, 21:23

Translation(s)

The evil word through some small gain of good it seems to bring, is still parent of evil things.

Explanation

Does not expand what exactly he considers an ‘evil word?’ Full reading of the sections on virtue can tell us.Abstaining from words of evil intent is similar to abstaining from divisive speech preached by Buddha, since the intent behind divisive speech is evil. It is one of the four qualities of Right Speech and thus said Buddha in 3rd of his Noble Eight Fold Path:

“And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This monks, is right speech.” [13].

Translation(s)

Nature may thoroughly heal the sore in flesh inflamed by fire, but the ulcer in soul inflamed by tongue never heals.

Explanation

Avoiding sores caused by tongue lash is similar to abstaining from abusive speech preached by Buddha, since abusive speech is like lash administered using the tongue. It is one of the four qualities of Right Speech and thus said Buddha in 3rd of his Noble Eight Fold Path:

“And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying abstaining from divisive speech, absenting from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter: This, monks, is right speech” [13].

Thus two of the four qualities of Right Speech told by Buddha are covered in this chapter of Kural. The other two are covered in Chapter-20 on “Avoid Speaking in Vain” (which includes abstaining from idle chatter) and Chapter-30 on “Veracity” (which includes abstaining from lying).

Translation(s)

One who learns restraint and guards his soul from wrath, virtue attends his path as a timely aid.

 

Summary Note

Summary: Thiru-valluvar first tells about excellence of self-restraint (121-125), then control of body (126), then restraint of tongue (127-129), finally fruits of self-restraint (130).

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life."
- Bible, New Testament, James, Chapter 1, Verse 12

The temptation mentioned above is to do evil.

“More than those who hate you, more than all your enemies, an undisciplined mind does greater harm.”
- The Buddha

Amongst the Seven Deadly Sins in Christanity, I have not put pictures on three here - Gluttony, Sloth, and Envy.

Looking Up from Base of the Statue
Note folds & falls of "Lungi" He Wears, Carved in Stone - Closeup,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari,India
Credit: Thangalvk, Flickr

References