Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
Click the links here to read Thirukural in
Hindi,
Arabic, French, Kannada, Konkani, Latin, Malayalam, Marathi, Russian

Chapter - 60 : Energy
 

Introductory Note

Rev. G. U. Pope: “The etymology suggests ‘elevation of mind’” as the title of this chapter.

"The world will belong to passionate, driven leaders – people who not only have enormous amounts of energy, but who can energise those whom they lead – Jack Welch, CEO, General Electric

Translation(s)

It is energy which gives men true control over that they own, they who do not own energy of soul own nothing.

 

Translation(s)

The wealth of mind that a man owns imparts real worth, material wealth man owns does not endure but departs utterly.

 

Translation(s)

The men possessed of firm concentrated energy of soul, they do not utter this cry distressed: ‘Lost is our wealth.’

 

Translation(s)

Good fortune seeks him out – the man of inflexible energy of soul – and comes as a friend to dwell (with him).

 

Translation(s)

With rising flood the rising lotus flower unwinds its stem, the dignity of men is measured by their minds.

“The water’s depth’s the lily’s length:
The height of a man his mental strength.”
- rendering by Robinson

Explanation

This verse of Thirukural was a favorite of the – President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He translates it as under:

=================================================================================================.”

Rev. G. U. Pope: “The lotus in the tank, with its long, flexible, winding stem is always on the surface, rising or falling with the depth of the water, unaffected by any vicissitude. So ‘Man is man and master of his fate.’”

Naladiyar, a later Tamil composition, has a somewhat similar verse which says that men are to be assessed by their mind – not their race:

“Though by the briny sea, sweet waters spring; by hill,
Bitter with salt the waters gush. Thus as their race
Are not men, - Lord of the dashing sea’s cool shore! –
The men are as their minds.”
- Naladiyar, 245]

Translation(s)

Whatever you ponder let your aim be lofty still; fate cannot hinder always, thwart you at its will.

Explanation

This applies in bussiness also:

"Aim for the highest."
- Andrew Carnegie

"I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big." - Donald Trump

Translation(s)

The men of lofty mind do not quail (rant) during ruin’s fateful hour; the elephant retains his dignity amid deadly shower of arrows.

Explanation

To put up with. . . distortions and to stick to one's guns come what may — this is the. . . gift of leadership.
- Abridged quote, Mohandas Gandhi

Translation(s)

The soulless man can never gain the ennobling sense of power with men.

Explanation

Meaning is not clear

Translation(s)

The huge bulk of elephant all armed with pointed tusks, shrinks away alarmed when tiger threatened.

Explanation

Tiger’s energy makes the elephant, which is many times heavier & bigger, to withdraws.

Translation(s)

Firmness of soul in man is real excellence; others (who do not possess it) are trees, their human form is just pretence.

Explanation

Trees are unable to think, unable to speak, unable to do.

Summary Note

Entusiasm is the baking powder of life. Without it, you are flat; with it, you rise.

View from North-West,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari, India
Credit: Henk Jacobs (oochappan), Trekearth

References