The Kural

of a constant love.

They are fools who say that love is for the righteous alone: for even against the evil-minded love is the only ally for a man.

Behold how the sun burneth the boneless worm: even so doth Righteousness burn the man that doth not love.

Behold the man that loveth not: he will know prosperity only when the sapless tree of the desert putteth forth leaves.

Of what avail is a lovely outside, if love, the soul’s ornament, hath no place in the heart?

The seat of life is in Love: who hath it not is only a mass of skin-encased bone.

IX

Hospitality

81. What for do the wise toil and set up homes? It is to feed the guest and help the pilgrim.

82. Were it even the draught of immortality, it shall not be tasted alone when the guest is in the hall.

83. No evil befalleth the man who never faileth to honour the incoming guest.

84. Behold the man who receiveth the worthy guest with his best smile: Lakshmi12 delighteth to abide in his home.

85. Behold the man who feedeth his guest first and then only eateth what is left: standeth his land in need even of sowing?

86. Behold the man who hath tended the outgoing guest and waiteth for the incoming one: he is a welcome guest unto the Gods.

87. We cannot say of any hospitable act by itself, So much is the merit of this act: it is the worth of the guest that is the measure of the sacrifice.

88. Behold the man who performeth not the sacrifice of hospitality: he will say one day, I have toiled hard and laid me up a great treasure: but it is all in vain, for there is none to comfort me.

89. Not to honour the pilgrim is veritable indigence in the midst of wealth: such a thing is found only with fools.

90. The anitcha flower fadeth by smelling: but a look is enough to break the heart of the guest.

X

Kindness of Speech

91. The speech that is truly kind is the speech of the righteous men which is full of tenderness and free from dissimulation.

92. Better even than a generous gift is sweet speech and a kind and gracious look.

93. Behold the sweet and gracious look and the kind speech that cometh from the heart: Righteousness hath its dwelling place there.

94. Behold the man who always speaketh words which gladden all hearts: Poverty, the increaser of sorrow, will never come to him.

95. Modesty and a loving speech, these alone are the ornaments of man and none other.

96. Sinfulness will wane away and righteousness will increase if thy thoughts are good and thy speech is kind.

97. The word that is serviceable and kind createth friends and bringeth forth benefits.

98. Words that are kind and are removed from all littleness yield good in this life and in the next also.

99. Why doth not a man cease from violent words, even after he hath felt the sweetness that kind words give?

100. Behold the man who useth hard words when sweet ones serve: he preferreth the unripe fruit to the ripe.

XI

Gratitude

101. Behold the kindness done without any obligation: even the heavens and the earth are too poor to repay it.

102. A kindness done in the hour of need may look small: but it outweigheth the whole world.

103. Behold the kindness done without thought of recompense: it is mightier than the ocean.

104. The benefit received may be small even like a millet seed: but in the eyes of the just its measure is that of a palmyra tree.

105. Gratitude is not limited by the assistance given: it is bounded only by the nobility of him that receiveth it.

106. Disregard not the friendship of the holy ones: forsake not those that succoured thee in difficulty.

107. He that hath relieved from affliction shall be remembered with gratitude in every birth.

108. It is ignoble to forget a kindness: but an ill turn received it is the part of nobility to forget at once.

109. The mortallest injury is forgiven the moment the mind recalleth a single kindness received from the injurer.

110. There is redemption for men who are guilty of every other crime: but the ingrate wretch shall know of none.

XII

Uprightness of Heart

111. The just and the fair that giveth each man his due whether he is friend or foe, that is the good: nought else.

112. The prosperity of the just groweth not less: it endureth even unto their remotest posterity.

113. Though nought but profit come of it, touch not the wealth that cometh by deviating from the right.

114. The righteous and the unrighteous are known by their offspring.

115. Evil and good come unto all: but an upright heart is the glory of the wise.

116. When thy heart swerveth from the right and turneth unto evil, know that thy destruction is near at hand.

117. The world looketh not down on the poverty of the upright and virtuous man.

118. Behold the weighing beam, for it is straight in itself and weigheth justly: the glory of the wise is to be like unto it and to incline neither to this side nor to that.

119. Behold the man who swerveth not at all from the right in his own mind: the upright speech of his lips is a judgment.

120. Behold the businessman that looketh after the interests of others as his own: his business will expand.

XIII

Self-Control

121. Self-control leadeth unto heaven, but uncontrolled passion is the royal road to endless darkness.

122. Guard thy self-control as a very treasure: life hath no richer wealth here below.

123. Behold the man who controlleth his passions consciously and by the right way: wisdom and every other blessing will come unto him.

124. Behold the man who hath triumphed over his passions and who swerveth not from duty: his form is more imposing than a mountain.

125. Humility is beautiful in all man: but alone on the rich doth it shine in all its splendour.

126. Behold the man who can draw in into himself his five senses even as the tortoise doth its limbs: he hath laid up for himself a treasure for all his