166
Kual-44
Behold the man, who hath triumphed over his passions and who swerveth not from duty: his
form is more imposing that a mountain.
Kural-45
Humility is beautiful in all men: but alone on the rich doth it shine in all its splendour.
Kural-46
Behold the man who can draw in into himself five senses even as the tortoise doth its limbs:
he hath laid up for himself a treasure that will last even unto his seventh reincarnation.
Kural-47
Whatever else thou rein not in, rein in thy tongue: for an unbrided tongue will utter foolish
things and will lead thee unto grief.
Kual-48
If even one world of thine causeth pain to another, all thy virtue is lost.
Kural-49
The burn caused by fire healeth in its time: but the wound burned in by the tongue remaineth
a running sore forever.
Kural-50
Behold the man who hath learned wisdom and self-control and who alloweth not anger to
harbor in his heart: Righteousness pilgrimageth to his home in order to have a sight of his
face.
The poet in this chapter talks about the importance of self-control in a person’s life.
Self- control is defined as ‘the guarding of mind, body and speech from evil ways’. He says
that self-control will place a man among the gods and the want of it will drive him into the
darkest depths of hell. The poet further adds that if a man, knowing
that self-control is
knowledge, in the appointed way controls himself, then his greatness would be more loftier
than a mountain and his self-control
as known by the wise, would bring him distinction.
Learning and wealth often lead to pride. So for men who possess these, humility is of peculiar
excellence. The writer even goes on the say that, if a person throughout one birth, keeps his
five senses
in control like a tortoise, then that person would be able to obtain happiness
throughout his seven births. The poet also stresses on the importance of guarding one’s
tongue so as to avoid being drawn to evil and distress. He goes on to say that, the wound that
has
been burnt by fire may heal, but a wound burnt in by the tongue would never heal (the
word translated ‘wound’, signifies’ a wound that always leaves a scar’). The poet concludes
this chapter by saying that, a man who guards against anger and has learnt to control himself
would definitely meet opportunity in his path.