The Eighteen Lesser Texts, including the Thirukkural.
With corpses heaped in all four directions, the elephants lying in piles looked like great mountains shattered by thunderbolts from the sky: the field where the jewelled Chola king slew the enemy kings.
The Ten on What Has No Equal: (1) There is no gain greater than good children. (2) There is no worth greater than knowing one's duty to others. (3) There is no better wish than a wish for what is fitting. (4) There is no worse wish than a wish for what is not. (5) There is no cruelty greater than hiding what one could give. (6) There is no death worse than a life without awareness. (7) There is no poverty greater than craving. (8) There is no legacy greater than fame. (9) There is no disgrace greater than begging. (10) There is no glory greater than giving to those who ask.
Except for those who reach the feet of the One who has no equal, it is hard to rid the mind of its worries.
A weapon in the hands of one without strength is painful; the beauty of a flower without fragrance is painful; the daring of one without clear judgment is painful; and the talk of one who cannot answer a question is painful too.
For the priestly to possess Vedic learning is very sweet; leadership of an army by one with the backing of kin is sweet; and even if it is one's own father, not following his ways when he is unrestrained is sweet too.
Elephants dark as hills of collyrium, steeped in blood in battle, looked like hills of red cinnabar: the field where the king of the Kaveri land, where varal fish leap, slew his foes.
The Ten Vain Hopes: (1) That the truly wise fail to live well is untrue. (2) That one of great standing is never angered is untrue. (3) That a drunkard never stumbles is untrue. (4) That one blind to the right time will succeed is untrue. (5) That one who cannot see what is coming can guard himself is untrue. (6) That one who hates hard work will rise is a vain hope. (7) That one who cannot bear small beginnings will reach greatness is a vain hope. (8) That one who cannot carry greatness will keep humility is a vain hope. (9) That one ruled by greed for wealth will deal justly is untrue. (10) That one who is impure performs true tapas is untrue.
Except for those who reach the feet of the gracious Sage who is an ocean of virtue, it is hard to swim across the other seas.
A lack of grace in those whose hearts should be clear as daylight is painful; friends who only smile but have no real affection are painful; those who rise up in enmity and then run away are painful; and the friendship of the unkind-hearted is painful too.
The strength of the horse one rides is sweet; in the fierce battles of garlanded kings, the fury of elephants like dark mountains is sweet to behold; and listening eagerly, with an unclouded mind, to what is good is sweet.
