The Eighteen Lesser Texts, including the Thirukkural.
Sorrow comes to those who do not worship the feet of the three-eyed Lord Shiva; to those who live without remembering the fair Balarama of the golden palm banner; to those who forget Vishnu who bears the discus; and to those who do not worship the feet of Murugan who holds the spear of Shakti.
It is sweet to reach swiftly the feet of the three-eyed Lord Shiva; sweet to worship Vishnu who wears the ancient, glorious tulasi garland; and sweet to go before the four-faced Brahma and praise him with devotion.
Just as the letter A stands first among all letters, the Primal Lord stands first in the whole world.
The beauty of a house without the bonds of family is painful; the good looks of a son without a father are painful; to live and eat at the expense of a priest's frugal household is painful; and a mantra that does not come out right is painful too.
To learn, even if one must beg for it, is very sweet; to lend a helping hand in an assembly of the good is sweeter still; the words of a loved one with a pearl-bright smile are sweet; and to keep clearly to the company of the noble is sweet too.
In the battle that began with the morning sun, the blood of the fallen, trampled by elephants, became mire by forenoon and by afternoon rose as dust like powdered coral: such was the field where the lord of the river land slew those who wronged him.
The Ten on What Is Greater: (1) Good conduct is greater than learning. (2) Being respected is greater than being loved. (3) Not forgetting what one has learned is greater than brilliance. (4) Truthfulness is greater than generosity. (5) A body free of disease is greater than youth. (6) Modesty is greater than beauty. (7) Steadfast virtue is greater than noble birth. (8) Revering the learned is greater than learning alone. (9) Bettering oneself is greater than striking one's foes. (10) Not shrinking later is greater than swelling early.
What good is all one's learning if one does not bow at the good feet of the One whose wisdom is pure?
Fowl and dogs straying into a priest's house are painful; a quarrelsome spouse who will not be calmed is very painful; wearing torn and ragged cloth is painful; and the land of a king who does not protect his people is painful too.
If a householder can fulfil his duties rightly, the household life is sweet; if it does not prosper, then for the great to see the impermanence of all things and renounce the world is the highest sweetness of all.
