Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) Prologue
When choosing between right and wrong; doing the right thing.
Sirappu Eenum Selvamum EenumAraththinooungu Aakkam Evano Uyirkku
Virtue will confer heaven and wealth; what greater source of happiness can man possess ?
It yields distinction, yields prosperity; what gainGreater than virtue can a living man obtain
G. U. Pope, 1886
Araththinooungu Aakkamum Illai AdhanaiMaraththalin Oongillai Ketu
There can be no greater source of good than (the practice of) virtue; there can be no greater source of evil than the forgetfulness of it
No greater gain than virtue aught can cause; No greater loss than life oblivious of her laws
G. U. Pope, 1886
Ollum Vakaiyaan Aravinai OvaadheSellumvaai Ellaanj Cheyal
As much as possible, in every way, incessantly practise virtue
To finish virtue's work with ceaseless effort strive, What way thou may'st, where'er thou see'st the work may thrive
G. U. Pope, 1886
Manaththukkan Maasilan Aadhal AnaiththuAran Aakula Neera Pira
Let him who does virtuous deeds be of spotless mind; to that extent is virtue; all else is vain show
Spotless be thou in mind! This only merits virtue's name; All else, mere pomp of idle sound, no real worth can claim
G. U. Pope, 1886
Azhukkaaru Avaavekuli Innaachchol NaankumIzhukkaa Iyandradhu Aram
That conduct is virtue which is free from these four things, viz, malice, desire, anger and bitter speech
'Tis virtue when, his footsteps sliding not through envy, wrath, Lust, evil speech-these four, man onwards moves in ordered path
G. U. Pope, 1886
Andrarivaam Ennaadhu Aranjeyka MatradhuPondrungaal Pondraath Thunai
Defer not virtue to another day; receive her now; and at the dying hour she will be your undying friend
Do deeds of virtue now Say not, 'To-morrow we'll be wise'; Thus, when thou diest, shalt thou find a help that never dies
G. U. Pope, 1886
Araththaaru Ithuvena Ventaa SivikaiPoruththaanotu Oorndhaan Itai
The fruit of virtue need not be described in books; it may be inferred from seeing the bearer of a palanquin and the rider therein
Needs not in words to dwell on virtue's fruits: compareThe man in litter borne with them that toiling bear
G. U. Pope, 1886
Veezhnaal Pataaamai Nandraatrin AqdhoruvanVaazhnaal Vazhiyataikkum Kal
If one allows no day to pass without some good being done, his conduct will be a stone to block up the passage to other births
If no day passing idly, good to do each day you toil, A stone it will be to block the way of future days of moil
G. U. Pope, 1886
Araththaan Varuvadhe Inpam MarRellaam Puraththa Pukazhum Ila
Only that pleasure which flows from domestic virtue is pleasure; all else is not pleasure, and it is without praise
What from virtue floweth, yieldeth dear delight; All else extern, is void of glory's light
G. U. Pope, 1886
Seyarpaala Thorum Arane OruvarkuUyarpaala Thorum Pazhi
That is virtue which each ought to do, and that is vice which each should shun
'Virtue' sums the things that should be done;'Vice' sums the things that man should shun
G. U. Pope, 1886
