Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 25 : The Possession of Benevolence
 

The section on ‘Virtue of Renunciation’ or ‘Ascetic Virtue’ begins here. The praise of ascetics has already been celebrated in Ch. 3.

This section is divided into two sub-sections, viz.

‘Religious Observances’ (Ch. 25 – 33), and
‘Wis

Introductory Note

“The highest form of wisdom is kindness.”
- The Talmud

Translation(s)

Wealth amidst wealth is wealth of ‘kindliness.’ The vilest also possess the wealth of goods.

Explanation

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."
- Lao-Tzu

Translation(s)

Though many systems you explore and by good methods make due trial, the law of ‘grace’ fulfill (by give immense happiness) and this is your only aid.

“On due consideration it will be found, that all sects maintain that the aid of charity is necessary to obtain felicity; reflect carefully therefore and cherish the benevolent affections.”
-rendering by F.W. Ellis

 

Translation(s)

They in whose breast a ‘gracious kindliness’ resides, do not see the gruesome world where dreary (gloomy) darkness awaits.

Explanation

Such human beings do not go to hell.

Translation(s)

One, who provides with gracious zeal for undying souls of men, shall never feel in his own soul the dreaded guilt of sin.

Explanation

This is about the person who feeds hungry people and saves their lives.“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Jesus Christ, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5.7, The Bible [3]

Translation(s)

The vast realm of teeming earth, around which the wild wind blows, is witness that men of ‘grace’ shall not know any woeful want.

Explanation

Poet imagines that wind traverses the whole earth as it blows over land as well as sea and in all directions. The earth is described as teeming with people. He asserts wherever there is humanity on this vast earth, men of ‘grace’ are respected and never suffer from woeful want.

Translation(s)

Those who forsake ‘grace’ and do graceless actions, lacking the awareness of what is true wealth, deliberately stay away from it.

 

Translation(s)

To the impoverished men, present world is as good as non-existent; similarly the ‘graceless’ have neither a place nor a share of things, in the world beyond.

“The other world (i.e. its joys) belongeth not to those who are devoid of charity as this world belongeth not to those who are devoid of wealth.”
- rendering by F.W. Ellis

 

Translation(s)

Those who lose the flower of wealth may bloom again when seasons change; but those who lose ‘benevolence,’ lose all and nothing can change their doom.

 

Translation(s)

When unwise souls can see the true wisdom’s mystic vision, the ‘graceless’ men may work true works of charity.

Explanation

In other words, unwise men can never see mystic vision and graceless men will never do true works of charity. Both are impossible.

Translation(s)

When you confront weaker men with threatening brow, think how you felt in front of some stronger foe.

“Imagine thyself before those more powerful than thou art,
when about to treat harshly those more weak than thyself.”
- rendering by F.W. Ellis

 

Google Map of Kanyakumari (India). Thiruvalluvar Statue is on the smaller island,
Vivekananda Memorial on the bigger island. You can also see end of mainland India.
Credit: Chennai CutOut, Flickr

References