KURAL 592

ullam udaimai udaimai poruludaimmai

nillaathu neengi vidum

Split: ullam udaimai udaimai porul udaimai

nillathu neengi vidum

The most valued possession is that of an inner strength of mind,

riches, on the other hand, will soon vanish.

A vigorous mind is a true asset,material wealth is fleeting and cannot be depended upon.

                                          - in the words of Rajaji.

ON ENERGY AND ZEAL KURAL 591

udaya renapaduvathu ookkam akthilaar

udyathu udayaaro matru

Split: udayar enapaduvathu ookkam akthu illaar

udayathu udayaaro matru

only those, who possess energetic diligence, have real wealth

one wonders whether the others have any wealth at all.

Enthusiasm, energy and zeal, as well as the systematic diligence, co-existent with the powerful will, are the hall marks of true wealth.

A person without enthusiasm or energy, who is inclined to be indolent, even if he is possessed of extensive riches, cannot really be considered as possessing any wealth at all, in the true sense of the word.

Aravaali anthanan thaalsaerndaark kallal

piravaali neendhal aridhu

Split: ara vaali anthanan thaal saerndaarku allal

pira aazhi neethal aridhu

Except those who have found the feet of Him, who is the sea of all virtue

None can hope to cross the rest of the seas.

 Of the three major aspects of life - virtue, wealth and happiness, the first is the most vital one and God himself is described as the sea of all virtues.

Only the person who has reached the feet of the Sea of virtue can swim to the shore of the seas of wealth and happiness. 

Thanakkuvamai illathaan thaallsaerndark kallaal

manakkavalai matral aridhu

Split; thanakku uvamai illaathaan thaall saerndhaarku allaal

mana kavalai matral aridhu

They alone escape the anxieties of the mind,

who seek refuge with the One sans comparison

Those who surrender themselves to God will lead a worry free life.

The One who cannot be compared with another is God.

Irulsaer iruvinayum saeraa iraivan

poruzhsaer pugazhpurindhaar maattu

Split: irul saer iru vinayum saera iraivan

poruzh saer pugazh purindhaarmaattu

The twin deeds of dark illusion, will not affect

those who delight meaningfully in God's praise.

The one who abides in God will not be affected either by the contentment of his good deeds or by the pains of his evil deeds.

Porivaayil ainthavithaan poitheer ozhukka

nerinindraar needu vaazhvaar

Split: pori vaayil ainthu avithaan poi theer ozhukka

neri nindraar needu vaazhvaar.

Those who tread the faultless path of the One who is immune

To the five senses and the evils thereof, will attain lasting life.

Those who follow the path of Godliness, the path that conquered the 5 senses (sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing) and the evils that accompany them, will attain eternal life.

Venduthal vendamai elaanadi sernthaarku 

yaandum idumbai ila

Split: venduthal vendaamai ilaan adi sernhaarku

yaandum idumbai ila

No evil shall ever come to those who have contemplated the feet ,

Of Him who is above human frailties of desire and hatred.

For those who find solace at God's feet, which is the shrine of ultimate freedom from all attachment, there shall befall no evil or harm of any dimension.

The idea is that one who can conquer desire, want, and hatred will not come in the way of harm.

malarmisai aeginaan maanadi saerndaar

nilamisai needu vaalvaar

Split: malarmisai aeginaan maan adi saerndaar

nilamisai needu vaalvar

only those find lasting life that contemplate on Him

who has made tha blossomed mind His abode.

The mind cultivated along righteous ways, is receptive to Godliness and when such a mind contemplates God, it blossoms out even more and ensures salvation.

katradhanalaya payanen kol vaalarivan

natraall tholaar renin

Split: katradhanaal aaya payan enkol vaalarivan

nal thal tholaar enin.

learning and scholarship are of no avail if they do not lead

one to worship at the divine One's feet. 

Education must make one think of God.

The right knowledge would take one to God. Thus the purpose of all education is categorically laid down here as "the holy one of knowing God and worshipping Him"

IN PRAISE OF GOD

Agara mudhala elluthellam; aadhi

bhagawan mudatre ulagu.

Split: Agaram mudhala elluthu ellam aadhi

bhagawan mudhatre ulagu.

The alphabet begins with A;

So does the universe, with God.

Just as the letter "A" begin and energizes all other letters of the alphabet, God is the origin and  sustenance of all of the universe.

This is the first of the 10 couplets in this chapter, all in praise of God

The idea is that God is everything from A to Z.