Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 61 : Unsluggishness
 

Translation(s)

The luster of household dignity beaming brightly, flickers and dies when sluggish foulness dims its light.

Explanation

Here “----“ is “tamas” of Saanskrit. See Sankya Karika, xxv., xxxvi., (H.H. Wilson’s edition).

Compare with Gita, xiv.

Translation(s)

If you would uphold your household’s dignity, let indolence, the death of effort, die.

Explanation

Indolence is becoming indisposed to activity, is called ‘death of effort’ by the poet.

Translation(s)

One who fosters indolence in his breast, the silly elf; the house from which he springs will perish earlier than him.

Explanation

Indolence is called a silly elf by the poet. He says that if a man goes on this path, his household will perish before his death.

Translation(s)

He, who sunk in sloth, does not strive for noble objects, his faults thrive unheeded and his faily decays.

 

Translation(s)

Delay, oblivion, sloth, and sleep – these four are pleasure-boat to take the doomed to ruin’s shore.

Explanation

Four qualities are identified as causing economic ruin of a man.

Translation(s)

Though lords of earth gain unearned possessions, the slothful ones obtain no yield of good.

Explanation

Kings get unearned possessions but if they are slothful, they won’t be able to gain these.

Sloth is one of the Seven Deadly Sins in Christianity. It is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work and is called “acedia” in Latin. Sloth is associated with goats and the color light blue. [2]

Translation(s)

Those (kings) who hug their sloth and also do not attempt noble works shall bear reproofs and words of just contempt.

Explanation

In other words, they will be rightly inflicted words of contempt.

Translation(s)

If sloth finds a dwelling in a noble family, they shall be(come) bondsmen to them who hate them.

Explanation

Sloth leads kings and princes to defeat and slavery.

Translation(s)

One who changes slothful habits, saves himself from all that household rule depraves.

 

Translation(s)

The king whose life is rid of sluggishness shall rule over all (land) bestride by foot of mighty god.

Explanation

Such a king will rule over the whole earth. The phrase ‘bestride by foot of mighty god’ comes from a story in Hindu mythology in which God Vishnu in covered whole Universe three steps. The first step covered the whole earth.

This is true is business also:

"It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste time." - Henry Ford

Summary Note

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put till tomorrow what you can do today.
- Lord Chesterfield

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day."
Abraham Lincoln

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninty nine percent perspiration."
- Thomas Alva Edison, c. 1903

View from South-East,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari, India
Credit: Mahesnn_2000, Flickr

References