VariarAndPearlsOfWisdom Translation from Tamil Veeraswamy Krishnaraj மணிமொழிகள்: வாரியார் சுவாமிகள்

Kripanantha Variar is a well-known and loved devotee of Siva, Ganesa and Murugan. Tirumantiram says, “Siva is the Intelligence that abides as Sivam.” The divine poet says, “The Intelligent have all.” Intellect is deep, expansive and subtle. God is called the Deep, the Expansive and the Subtle. That is what Mani Vasakanar says. Intellect abides in the deep. Having Intellect is having bliss. The surface of the ocean have waves. Below the surface, are the fish. Still further down below the waves, there are snails. If you go further down, you will obtain pearls, ஆணிமுத்து āṇi-muttu, Pearls of the finest quality. With didactic and experiential knowledge as the basis for this collection of pearls, I (Variar) present them as a treat to your intellect with the blessings of Kanthavel (Skanda). Let the world attain salvation by studying and realizing these tenets. Variar.
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Thiru Muruga Kirupanandha Variyar, popularly known as Variyar Swamigal, was born on 25 August 1906 at Kangeyanallur, on the northern bank of Palar river and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Katpadi in the city of Vellore city. He was the fourth of his parents' eleven children. He died on November 7, 1993 (aged 87).
His father, Siva Thiru Mallayadasa Bhagavathar, was known for his discourses on the ancient Puranas and Ethics, in recognition of which he was conferred the title "Puranethikasa Paarangathar". His mother was Kanagavalli Ammaiyar, and both parents were of the Sengunthar caste that followed Veera Saiva Odhuvar traditions (primarily followers of Siva).
Variyar was taught by his father rather than attending school. By the age of eight, Variyar was capable of authoring Venbas (a form of Tamil lyric) and by his 12th year he had memorized 10,000 poems and authored texts like Ashta NagaBandham, Mayil, Vel, and Sivalinga Bandams.
He also took lessons from a guru, Thiruppugazh Swamigal, for a few days, and he subsequently looked after the family of the guru for about 25 years.
Variyar Swamigal married Amirtha Lakshmi, daughter of his maternal uncle, when he was nineteen. The couple had no children.—Wikipedia.
 

Sengunthar  = செங்குந்தர் = ceṅ-kuntar. , n. < செங்குந்தம்² Persons of Kaikkōḷa caste, as the spearmen of ancient times; [செந்நிறமான ஈட்டியை யுடையவர்] கைக்கோளர். (திவா.).

Here are the sayings of Variar. Translation Veeraswamy Krishnaraj
1) Page 04. My dear friend! God is a Supreme Being without form, name, attributes, and sign. That Supreme Being, to offer refuge, bears the form of Grace. His form is compassion. Water in freezing temperature becomes solid and ice. Again, it dissolves into water. Likewise, God assumes the immeasurable sacred form of Grace on account of inordinate compassion.
2) Page 05. My dear friend! O the All-Pervasive Being! Bless me with compassion to attain the state of the soul in total tranquility, selfless service, and Nishkama service to this world. Nishkama = without an expectation of reward. By giving me opportunities and boldness from your repository of compassion, please confer on me success in my endeavor. So saying, you must worship God.
3) Page 06 My dear friend! Pray and plead with God to offer you the following: Show me your presence in all beings. Let me live a life devoid of injury to all beings by my mind, speech, and body. Let me show love to all that love me and hate me. Please give me a life of belief that my body, intellect, wealth are not mine, and that I am only a custodian. Please grant me that enduring belief.
Page 07. My dear friend! You must think of God at all times. If you cannot do it in the beginning, think of him without a miss at least three times a day.
1) When you get up in the morning, think of God at least for a second and say to Him, "O God, Please give me your grace, so I tread the virtuous path today."
2) Think of Him when you eat. "O God, please give me grace, so intellect and love come to me from the food I eat now.
3) Think of Him, when you go to bed. "In this sleep, let thoughts of you remain with me."
Page 08. My dear friend! God can be visualized inside. Because He does not appear in your Inner Vision, don't say He does not exist.
In turbid waters, the moon does not make an appearance. Would it be a sign of intellect to say that the moon does not exist on that paradigm?
If your inside is turbid on account of anger, deception, quarrel..., visualization of the Supreme Being is impossible. Therefore, let your mind/soul (உள்ளம்) become clarified. As the clearing nut clarifies the turbid waters, God's sacred Mantras would clarify your mind. God appears to the clarified mind.
Page 09. My dear friend! If God were to rise to grant grace to your soul, your soul should be pure. Would you not feel disgust, if you were to remain in the midst of trash? God would not remain in the soul, afflicted with lust, anger, deceit, conspiracy, baseness, murder…Therefore shine the floor with the dung of tranquility of a cow, sprinkle sandal water of love, light up the lamp of intellect, and burn the incense stick to spread the fragrance of truth: God will rise in your soul.
DP Page 10. My dear friend! What do you do, when you wish to see two sides (the back and the front) of your body? You stand between the mirrors. Likewise, you could see God’s form of wisdom with the help of two mirrors: God’s grace and Guru’s grace.
Page 11. My dear friend! The God you saw in the temple with your external eyes, you try to see with your inner eyes. He would manifest Himself in lotus of your heart. That sight is the best sight. The bliss that proceeds from that sight cannot be obtained  elsewhere.
Page 12. My dear friend! Light has no color. When that light shines from inside a multi-colored glass dome, it appears green on the green side of the dome, red on the red-sided glass, and blue on the blue-sided glass. Colorless light acquires color from the color of the glass. Likewise, to the Sadhaka, in whatever form he worships god, that god appears in that form and grants grace.

Page 13. My dear friend! When you express your love for God, you must plead with Him, “O God, Please grant happiness to all life-forms in this world.” Do not ask him to protect and nourish only you. If you beg God to protect and nourish all life-forms, are you not one of the life-forms?
You plead with him to shower rain all over the world instead of asking him for rain only on your cultivable lands. The rain that falls all over the world will fall on your fields also.
Page 14. My dear friend! When you offer your prayers to God, do not say, “Give me this; give me that.” He would give you what you need on his own volition. He knows all your needs without your proclamation. He gives without a trace of miserliness; He is the Ocean of mercy; He is capable of granting anything. Therefore, worship God in the spirit of love. Do not conduct business with him.
Page 15. My dear friend! In this world, when one auspicious entity merges with another one, that engenders sweetness and pleasure (இனிமை & சுகம்). When milk and honey mix, that mixture enhances taste. The same is applicable to mixing of foods. Likewise, husband and wife enjoy happiness in union, which is of trivial nature (அணுத்துணை, சிற்றின்பம்), compared to the Supreme Bliss (பேரின்பம்) obtained from the merger of individual soul with the Supreme Soul. Endeavor to attain the latter. Be that your sole enjoyment (ஏகபோகம்)with God.
Page 16. My dear friend!
To the eyes, the ornament (the jewel) is. கண்ணுக்கு அணிகலம் (ஆபரணம்)
Gracious glance is compassion. கண்ணோட்டம் (தாட்சணியம்.)
For the ears, the ornament is a good question. காதுக்கு அணிகலம் நல்ல கேள்வி.
For the speech, the ornament is Truth. வாக்குக்கு அணிகலம் சத்தியம்.
For the hands, the ornament is a gift in charity and as duty. கரத்திற்கு அணிகலம் தான தருமம்.
For the mind, the ornament is meditation. மனத்திற்கு அணிகலம் தியானம்.
Page 17. My dear friend! As you endeavor to nurture the body, endeavor to nurture also the soul. Because soul is supreme. No one nurtures the body without life (soul). As soon as life (soul) leaves the body, they bury the body in the earth, or burn it. Therefore, search for strength and stability for the in-dwelling soul.
Page 18. My dear friend!
If you eat good (nutritious) food, the body grows.
If you read sacred texts, your mind and perception (உணர்ச்சி) would grow.
As you think of God with a pure mind, your soul matures. (mala paripakam = மலபரிபாகம் = Equable resolution of merits and demerits--Krishnaraj).
Therefore, let the body, mind and soul grow.
Page 19. My dear friend!
Live a life receiving help from exalted ones, known for intellect and power. Because of that, your life will flourish. You will not roil in misery.
The vine that clings on a tall tree, grows towards the sky. If it is no so, it spreads sideways on the ground, tread by feet.
You always keep the company of the great men (and women).
The nature of the rock is to immerse in water. The nature of the log is to float. The stone, small or large, goes down in the water.
However, if you keep the stone on a boat, the stone moves floating on the water.
Likewise, if you remain proximate to great men, you would complete actions far beyond the capabilities of your intellect.
Page 20. My dear friend!
The greatest misery of all miseries is to move among the ignoramuses.
The greatest happiness of all is to move among the wise men.
The happiness thus enjoyed is not obtainable even in the world of celestials. Of all the sweetness of words, the sweetest words originate (come from) the wise men. By them, your mind, soul, and perception will be restful.
Page 21. My dear friend!
Instead of reading more, try to live by what you read already. Reading is like eating food; living by what you read is like digestion. If gluttonous eating is not accompanied by digestion, of what purpose does it serve? Does the undigested food cause distress? Therefore, though your learning is small, you should live by what little you learnt.
Better to be of good conduct than of reciting the Vedas. (“ஓதலின் நன்று ஒழுக்கமுடைமை.”)
Page 22. My dear friend!
What you feel as right, don’t conclude as right.
What appears as right to day, appears as wrong tomorrow.
Your intellect and power of reasoning grow and (is dynamic).
Live by the moral duty and justice pronounced by the seers (தீர்க்கதரிசிகள்) with fullness of maturity, intellect and grace.
Page 23. My dear friend!
Yogurt from milk, butter from yogurt, clarified butter from butter
Milk transforms to yogurt, butter appears from yogurt, and butter becomes clarified butter. Cotton becomes thread, thread becomes a long cloth, and cloth becomes a shirt. Bud, flower, unripe fruit, ripe fruit.
Likewise, desire, attachment, love, and grace rise from the mind. Desire becomes attachment, attachment blossoms into love and love ripens to grace.
The man with desire is a demon (அரக்கன்). One with attachment is an animal. One with grace is divine.
Desire is thinking to live for himself by ruination of others.
Attachment is thinking to live for oneself to the exclusion of others.
Love is the thought that he, his kind and his nation should thrive.
Grace is thought that all the Movables and the Immovables (சராசரம்) should thrive.
Page 24. My dear friend!
Learning and hearing are to subside in God. Goal of education is the same. Do not learn for obtaining a college degree, savoring adoration from others as an erudite scholar, and being an orator uttering sweet words (that roll off your tongue) like the throw of the dice. The goal and utility of education are to know God.
Page 25. My dear friend!
When you go to bed, think of the following: What are the beneficial actions did I perform from the time I opened my eyes in the morning to the time I closed my sleepy eyes? Who benefited from my munificence? What are the virtuous acts I performed by my mind, speech and body?
A merchant, when he closes his shop for the day, ascertains income, expenditure, and cash balance on hand (இருப்புத்திட்டம்). Likewise, before you shut your eyes to go to sleep, you should think of the acts of merit and demerit (புண்ணியம்-பாவம்) and assume that meritorious acts are your cash balance.
Page 26. My dear friend!
Unless sleep overpowers you, do not lay down on the bed.
If you lay down on the bed thus, sleep does not embrace you; you keep rolling on bed, entertaining many evil thoughts and desires. When sleep overwhelms you, you go to sleep on your bed.
As soon as you awaken from sleep in the morning, get out of bed. Do not lay on the bed lazily, rolling sideways.
Page 27. My dear friend!
With the use of carpenter’s line (நூல் தட்டுதல்), the crooked logs become straight, grace the mansions and temples, cast straight shadows and appear shining with the smear of oil. Likewise, studying science of polity, removing the crookedness of the mind, and occupying the highest seats of government, men receive honor and respect.
The logs that defied (did not measure up to the satisfaction of the carpenter) the carpenter’s line end up in the pile of firewood, soak in the pouring rain, dry in the scorching sun, and end up burning in the fire-place/oven. Likewise, the ones, not accustomed to code of laws and civil and religious duties (நீதிநூல்) succumb to many conflicts, censure and low life.
Page 28. My dear friend!
The family is like the tree. The roots are the wife; the main trunk is the husband; the primary branches are the children; the leaves are love; the flowers are compassion; the fruits are duty.
The tree gives shade for the birds and people and is a dwelling place. Likewise, the householder should always be of help to others. Do good to others by mind, speech and body.
Page 29. My dear friend!
If you were the householder, you should safeguard your ancestral property (மூலதனம்) and spend the income from it in good ways. If you were to do it, your ancestral property will not come to a ruin or depletion. Because of it, your charity (நல்லறம்) will continue to serve the people.
The garland weaver maintains the flower bushes, picks the flowers in bud and bloom for weaving and sells them. The plant is the principal; the flowers are the source of income.
The firewood logger fells the tree and makes charcoal. The principal is destroyed. You should not be like that. Remain like the flower weaver. Don’t be like the logger for charcoal.
Page 30. My dear friend!
Because men guard the women, they are not low in station. The strong safeguards the soft (the weak). Softness (weakness) succumbs to strength. Men are strong. Women are soft. Therefore, manhood offers protection to womanhood.
Gold is soft; iron is hard. Soft Gold is safeguarded in a hard steel box. The gold under safeguard: Does the world consider it as low or cheap? Think hard and realize.
Page 31. My dear friend!
Our ancient sacred texts did not prescribe Sannyasa to women. If the wife were unruly and improper, the man is advised to take Sannyasa without telling his wife. Sanyasam, as a hard path, is unsuitable and causes distress to soft-natured women.
சந்நியாசம் canniyācam = san-nyāsa. = Complete renunciation.
Sannyasam is complete renunciation of the birthplace, home, relatives, friends… It is pursuit of the Lord. A woman on marriage leaves her town, home, relatives, and friends to live with her husband: That is sannyasam for the woman.
Page 32. My dear friend!
Besides serving the visible world, do service to the invisible God.
To protect and serve your wife is very important. Why? She is your life partner. She stands as your helper in this birth and the next birth. (இம்மை-மறுமை). What your wife does as service to you is apparent to your eyes.
On the contrary, austerity, pregnancy, delivery, breast feeding, administration of medications, observing dietary laws (பத்தியம்)... are the invisible help coming from your wife. Therefore, God is like the mother. This world is like the wife.
Page 33. My dear friend!
What you eat is not for mere alleviation of your hunger. Besides, the food gives strength to the body. It should infuse goodness and virtue to your mind. Good qualities are sustained by food. Dietary laws (ஆகார நியமம்) are important. Do not eat foods that compromise your intellect and love. Eat pure foods and augment your pure habits.
Page 34. My dear friend!
அன்பனே! உனது மனைவி மக்களுக்கு நிரம்ப வேண்டும் என்று, பொய்யும் வஞ்சனையும் செய்து பொருளைத் தேடாதே. அப்படித் தேடுவதனால், நீ தேடிய பொருள் மனைவி மக்களை யடைந்துஅவர்களுக்குத் தீமையை விளைவிக்கின்றது. அதனால் வரும் பாவ மூட்டை உன் உயிருடன் தொடர்ந்து வருகிறது. உடம்புக்குச் சில ஆண்டுகள் தொடர்பு படும் மனைவி மக்களுக்காகத் தீய வழியில் பொருளை ஈட்டி வைத்துவிட்டு, நீ கணக்கற்ற பாவத்தைச் சுமந்துகொண்டு போவது எத்தனைப் பெரிய மடமை?எண்ணிப் பார். அறநெறியில் பொருளை ஈட்டு.
To accumulate wealth for your wife and children, do not go after wealth with lies and deceit. Wealth sought by these means and acquired by your wife and children cause evil. The checked-in suitcase of Karma accompanies you with your transmigration. It is a great stupidity and disservice to burden you wife and children (being the fellow travelers) with wealth accumulated by evil means. Think about it. Accumulate wealth by fair means.
Page 35. My dear friend!
அன்பனே! சொல்வதனால் குறைந்து போகும் பொருள்கள் இரண்டு. அவையாவன: புண்ணியமும்பாவமுகுமாகும்.
நீ செய்த புண்ணியங்களை, தர்மங்களை நீயே எடுத்துச் சொல்வதனால் புண்ணியம் குறையும். நீ செய்தபாவங்களை நீயே பிறரிடம் கூறுவதினால் பாவம் குறையும்.
குறைய வேண்டியது பாவம்; நிறைய வேண்டியது புண்ணியம்.
ஆதலினால் நீ செய்த புண்ணியத்தைக் கூறாதே; பாவத்தைக் கூறு.
By utterance are diminished two entities: Merit and demerit. By extolling your own merits and good works, merit would diminish (in value). By deploring your demerits, your demerits diminish (in value). Ought to diminish, the demerit; ought to increase, the merit. Therefore, you ought not to extol your merits; deplore your demerits.
Page 36. My dear friend!
If you were to receive God’s Grace, a path is available. It is not just mere worship and homage.
You should show mercy to life forms trembling from distress. Help alleviate their distress. If you remove distress of other life forms, God will show you mercy. By showing mercy, you can receive mercy. Don’t forget this at all times.
Page 37. My dear friend!
Don’t you take your belongings with you, when you move your residence to a different town? When you leave this body and go (on your journey), should not your wealth accompany you? If it were to go with you, do good deeds. What is piled on (your shoulders) goes with you everywhere. (எங்காயினும் வரும் ஏற்றவர்க்கு இட்டது.) Puja time is your time. Value earned from good deeds is yours. Your good deeds are like the sweat packaged rice useful on your important journey.
Page 38. My dear friend!
You cannot abolish your misery or gain happiness by accumulation of wealth, marriage or having children.
By pouring clarified butter, you cannot extinguish flames. Wife and children are like the butter to the embers of distress.
When you have contentment, you reached the courtyard of the happiness-mansion.
Page 39. My dear friend!
It is not enough just to desist from doing evil to others; you must do good deeds.
Magosa, Strychnine, and Babul trees are useful as medicinal plants and for firewood.
Always, to the extent possible, do help to others. Offer help by mind, speech, and body in a friendly manner.
Page 40. My dear friend!
Do not be like Snake, scorpion, and big scorpion (நட்டுவாக்காலி), the living beings that are capable of causing great hurt.
Do not be like bandicoot, mouse, cat, dog… that cause distress.
Pay attention to a life form, the squirrel. It does not cause any harm to anyone. It gave help in building Setubridge for Sri Rama. You must live in the spirit of the life of a squirrel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_palm_squirrel
Page 41. My dear friend!
If you wish to see your wealth not destroyed, you should not commit three acts.
Conduct yourself in a pleasing manner so you do not draw tears from the eyes of the poor (and the destitute).
Do not entertain the idea of other’s property to gravitate to you even in your dreams.
Do not accumulate wealth in an unjust manner.
Page 42. My dear friend!
Do not cause violence to others like a bedbug.
Do not steal to fill your stomach like a rat.
Do not exult and destroy other’s property like a termite.
Work hard like a honeybee and ant and then eat. That will give you tranquility and love.
Page 43. My dear friend!
Eating meager rice and water by one’s stint of work is better than eating sumptuous food consisting of butter, milk, and yogurt obtained by begging.
It is better to live a short life with bravery and fame than to live a jaded long life without bravery and fame.
Page 44. My dear friend!
Do not be carried away by praise; do not be depressed by calumny. Your mind would be tranquil, if you regard praise and condemnation equally.
Consider all as one: Sylvan forest and tranquil countryside, happiness and misery, comings and goings, enmity and friendship.
Remain stable and calm as an ocean without waves.
Page 45. My dear friend!
If the other abuses you, consider his harsh words as sweat words.
Do not abuse any person with harsh words irrespective of cause, time, place and circumstance.
Though what is obtained is gruel, eat it as if it is milk, butter and rice.
Though it is bitter, eat it as if it is a rock-candy. Because of it, you will find Truth in words.
Page 46. My dear friend!
Does your mind ache, when someone points out your faults and deficiencies? Therefore, you do not point out the other’s faults. Extol his character.
God dispenses punishment of the faults.
Once you lock the shop, pull the lock of your shop and not the locks of others. That provokes laughter.
Page 47. My dear friend!
You will enjoy the fruits of this year’s cultivation next year. If you put in hard work, the yield would be good. Next year the yield would be better. If you are lazy, stop working and spend time in waste, the yield would be poor next year. Likewise, you would enjoy this birth’s good deeds, in the next birth. Without doing good deeds and perpetrating evil deeds, in the next birth your life will falter, fail and reach a low point.
Page 48. My dear friend!
Search and find in the daytime what you need in the night. You should save during seasonable weather what you need in the rainy season. You should save in the youth, what you need in old age. What you need in the afterlife, you save in the present life.
Page 49. My dear friend!
Whatever gathering lacks elders cannot be called an assembly. Whosoever did not explicate sacred laws are not sages. Where there is no truth, there is no virtue. Whatever is mixed with deceit cannot be truth.
Page 50. My dear friend!
If you want to reach the heights, regard yourself as the lowest. Do not think, “I am the best.” and become haughty. By thinking you are the best, you cannot become the best. Let there be humility in your mind.
Verse 181. Being a Saiva Siddhanta religionist is a Great Privilege.
வாழ்வெனும் மையல் விட்டு, வறுமையாம் சிறுமை தப்பி,
தாழ்வெனும் தன்மையோடும் சைவமாம் சமயம் சாரும்
ஊழ்பெறல், அரிது சால; உயர்சிவ ஞானத்தாலே,
போழ் இள மதியினானைப் போற்றுவார், அருள் பெற்றோரே. 181. Sivagnana Siddhiar
Leaving aside the life of wealth and hubris, and the life of penury and humiliation; and adhering to a nature of humility and the religion of Saiva Siddhanta are the fruits difficult to obtain. By realizing the Great Siva Jananam and praising the wearer of nascent crescent moon (Siva), one obtains the Grace (of Siva).
வாழ்வு = Lofty life which implies youth, education, wealth, influence and privilege. Lofty life engenders hubris, which must be given up. The one enveloped by poverty suffers privation and humiliation. A realized soul must leave these two extremes. Siva is the only One who has all these qualities and yet transcends them all. To practice and adhere to Saiva Siddhanta are a difficult proposition. Once a soul accomplishes them, he stands to obtain the Grace of Siva.
Page 51 My dear friend!
Why did we take birth? Whence did we come from? Where do we have to go? Where are we going to? How did this body come about? Did it come on its own accord? Did it come about by conferment from someone? Who gave the body to us? What is the path to reach Him? Who are the liberated? Let such questions arise in your mind. Let you realize these. Do the work on hand. Do not ramble in distress, forgetting the work.
Page 52. My dear friend!
You remain in the world and are not of the world (World should not be in you.)
You remain in the family; family should not be in you.
If the world and family enter you, you will come to ruin.
Get on the cart; don’t let the cart get on top of you.
A ship should be in the sea. The sea should not enter the ship. If sea water enters the ship, the ship will immerse into the ocean.
Page 53. My dear friend!
Why did God give you gray hair, not seen in any animal? Think about it. Other animals are created for eating and sleeping. You came so you can attain the God in you. God gave the gray hair to remind the forgetful about the need for that realization. At least at the time of graying of the hair, let you take the path of liberation of the soul.
Page 54. My dear friend!
Whatever seed you sow, that particular plant sprouting from the seed will come home. By sowing sugarcane, do not expect production of wheat. Having planted Curry-leaf plant, obtaining a sandalwood tree is impossible. If you do good, you will receive good. If you do evil, you will experience evil.
Page 55. My dear friend!
The Hero is he who vanquished his senses.
Jñāni Is he who realized the qualities of God.
Tapasvi (recluse) is he who tolerates distress.
Householder is who lives to entertain guests.
He, who dies having no opportunity (inability) to do any good deeds, is truly living.
He who accumulates wealth without giving is dead.
Page 56. My dear friend!
Impurities are threefold.
1) Impurity of Mind: Jealousy, Greed, Anger, Enmity. These impurities should be cleansed with water of meditation.
2) Impurity of Mouth: Lies, Back-biting, Evil words. These are to be washed with water of worship.
3) Impurity of Body: Murder, Meat-eating, Adultery, Theft. These are to be washed with water of ritual worship.
Page 57. My dear friend!
Do not become a slave to your tongue. Do not go around looking for gourmet food. Eat what God gives you; become satisfied. If you become the slave of the tongue, your wellness will abandon you.
Fish, in search of food, constantly keeps moving. That desperate desire for food leads to death by the hook.
The water-living crab, frog…do not die from the hook. It happens to the fish only. Therefore, do not become diseased from excessive desire for food.

Page 58. My dear friend!
Know that attachment and desire (covetousness) are the cause of birth (rebirth).
Attachment is an investment of your mind in your possessions.
Covetousness is investing your mind in other people’s property.
Attachment is not a crime (but a liability). However, rebirth is not avoidable.
Covetousness brings great evil. First remove your covetousness and later attachment.
அற்றது பற்று எனில் உற்றது வீடு உயிர். Divyaprabhandam 1.2.5 Tiruvaimozhi
Attachment removed, if so, attained home soul. = When attachment comes to an end, the soul attains liberation.
Page 59. My dear friend!
Head is the most important part of the Body, measuring eight spans (nine inches X eight = 72 inches = Six feet.) Do not lie down and use the head-pillow under the feet which know not the difference between human waste and Sandalwood paste. If necessary, use an identifiable pillow for the feet.
Do not let a service provider sit on the throne meant for a king. Therefore, do not use the head-pillow as a foot-pillow.
Page 60. My dear friend!
Humility is a noble quality, the life current in your life. The quality of life without humility will not be lofty. Self-control (calmness) would make a person divine. Self-control at a young age is like the fragrance of the golden blossom.
The bamboo that does not bend before it becomes old, mature and stiff, is trampled under the feet of a bamboo-dancer. (That bamboo becomes the floor panel.)
The bamboo that bends when young and tender becomes the bow in the hands of the king. Besides, the flexible tender bamboo becomes the roof above the jeweled diadem of the king’s palanquin.
Page 61. My dear friend!
Happiness and misery arise from your mind. The mind is the cause of bondage and liberation. Evil mind offers the hell. Good mind yields the supreme state of liberation. Great men are free of impurities of the mind. Because the eye of the mind is pure, all (that he does) are a virtue. Therefore, let your mind be like a crystal.
Page 62. My dear friend!
Do not be cocksure of yourself (in your opinion) as to whether a man is evil or good judging by his external appearance. Come to a conclusion knowing the virtue of his quality.
Jackfruit has a spiny exterior; inside there is many a sweat flesh. The Vina (Stringed instrument) is crooked, but gives melodious sound.
Strychnine fruit glistens externally, but is bitter on mere touch. Jaman fruit is blue-black, but tastes good. The young of the snake are shiny, but very poisonous. The arrow is straight but will take a life.
Page 63. My dear friend!
Be at peace with your kind. You will enjoy respect, beauty and loftiness. If you leave your kind, you will be the subject of hatred from all.
When hair is on the head, it looks beautiful. It has an aura of beauty and respect, when it is dark, curly and shiny. Once it (one hair) leaves the company of its kind, it is subject to contempt and disgust. By reflecting on this, be of one mind.
Page 64. My dear friend!
It is not laudable to eat grass, leaf, or curry leaves; to live in a cave or water, and to fly in the sky. People who do these things are not Jñānis. The cow eats grass; lamb eats leaves; camel eats curry leaves. Animals live in caves; crab and bandicoot live in crevices; birds fly in the sky; these never become Jñānis.
Persons with self-realization, realization of God and abandonment of ego are the true Jñānis.
Page 65. My dear friend!
The saying of the wise men (ஆன்றோர்) is one. Fruits are according to maturity of wisdom (பரிபக்குவம்) of the individual souls who hear the wisdom.
The rain falling from the sky is of one nature. The rain that falls in the shell attains loftiness as a pearl. The raindrop falling on a lotus leaf appears like a pearl. The raindrop falling on a dry mud gets absorbed and disappears. Likewise, the words of wise men falling on the ears of exalted men sprout roots in the mind and cause great benefits.
The words falling on the ears of the middling men (மத்திமர்) stay on for a while and disappear. The words of wisdom falling on the ears of the unexalted men (= vile man = அதமர்) disappear then and there.
Page 66. My dear friend!
The object attains greatness or meanness depending on its destination. The iron ore obtained from the earth become two end products. One reached the hands of an exalted person; the other, a mean man (அதமன்). The iron in the hands of the exalted person took the form of a flat sheet wrapping around the base of the flagpole in the temple. It attained praiseworthiness by hand contact and head bow from many devotees.
The iron in the hands of mean man took the form a butcher knife killing millions of chickens.
Therefore, you will attain virtue, if you associate with virtuous men.
Page 67. My dear friend!
There is no wealth for a person with anger and envy (குரோதம், அழுக்காறு).
The torturer is not a friend.
There is no woman for (wanting to marry) a cruel person.
The happy-go-lucky gets no education.
The lascivious person has no shame.
The lazy has no money.
The one lacking determination has nothing.
Page 68. My dear friend!
Intelligence
Birth in a good family
Calmness
Judicious speech
Education
Strength
Charity within one’s means
Gratitude
These eight qualities elevate man.
Page 69. My dear friend!
Wealth comes by auspicious activity.
Earned wealth grows by skill.
Growing wealth puts roots by diversification.
Rooted wealth acquires stability by calmness.
Page 70. My dear friend!
There are six ways six people make a living.
The thief makes a living by lack of vigilance of the victim.
The doctor makes a living from the diseased.
The prostitute makes a living from the lascivious.
The beggar makes a living from the donors.
The king makes a living from litigants.
The erudite makes a living from the ignoramuses.
Page 71. My dear friend!
பார்த்துக் கெட்டது பிள்ளை = Child gone bad from lack of supervision (discipline) .
பார்க்காது கெட்டது பயிர் = crops gone bad from inattention.
இட்டுக் கெட்டது காது = Applied cotton-tipped swab, the ear goes bad.
இடாது கெட்டது கண் = Without (not applying) eyewash, the eye goes bad.
கேட்டுக் கெட்டது குடும்பம் = Tales told by neighbors, family goes bad.
கேளாது கெட்டது கடன் = pester, otherwise loan goes bad.
உண்டு கெட்டது வயிறு = Gluttony, stomach goes bad.
உண்ணாது கெட்டது உறவு = Being proud, stomach goes empty.

Children must be disciplined and brought up without compassion or mercy.
One should keep a constant watch on the crops.
One should not put the cotton swabs inside the ears.
Eyewash is good for the eye.
If you pay attention to tales, your family will come to ruin.
You have to keep pestering the debtor.
If you eat in excess, your stomach goes bad.
Set aside the pride, though the relative is poor; You should participate in family celebrations and eat in his house.
Page 72. My dear friend!
Once the pupil has finished with his education, he would not care for his Guru.
Once married, the son would not care for his mother.
One with no love would not care for a woman.
The beneficiary would not care for the benefactor.
The man who reached the shore would not care for his boat.
The cured man would not care for his doctor.
Page 73. My dear friend!
One should try to accumulate wealth.
One should know just means to accumulate wealth.
One should know how to grow the accumulated wealth.
One should protect the accumulated and the growing wealth.
One should use one’s wealth judiciously.
Wealth’s usefulness is charity.
To support and nurture wise men is salvation to the donor.
To give to the destitute (வறியார்) for their survival is Dharma.
Page 74. My dear friend!
Virtue is indestructible. Earth, sky, ocean, sun, moon…are subject to destruction. Virtue is eternal. Honey remains unspoiled and keeps things in it unspoiled. Likewise virtue is indestructible and protects the doers of virtuous acts from destruction.
Publicity, fame, and results are not considerations in virtuous deeds. Great virtue is a duteous deed without any secret longing.
Page 75. My dear friend!
One should have a ‘long vision’ like an eagle. One should have the still stance like the heron. One should be like a dog with caution, a crow which reads body language (இங்கிதம்), and a snake which leaves no telltale signs of its path.
Page 76. My dear friend!
Anger is evil. One should save oneself, even he does not protect his gold, wealth, lands, cattle, and wife and children. Anger is not afraid of sin. Because of anger, mind becomes befuddled. You do not know the difference between what is doable and what is avoidable. Speech would leave the boundaries.
This kind of anger should be expunged. There are three ways.
When you become angry, your face in the mirror is ugly to look at.
You should leave the place and circumstance, where you got angry.
You should not have a desire for an object. Desire is the cause of anger.

Page 77. My dear friend!

First, one should protect oneself.
It does not mean the body protection. You should not let loose your sense and motor organs in that way. You should channel the senses in the right path. You have to protect yourself from the hatred of your enemies, both inside you and others (அகப்பகை, புறப்பகை).
The Internal enemies are lust, anger, niggardliness, delusion, hubris, envy (= காமம், குரோதம், உலோபம், மோகம், மதம், மாற்சரியம்). You should suppress the six enemies. Later, you should suppress the external enemies.
Lust did in Dhayarathan.
Anger did in Kamsan.
Niggardliness (Stinginess and avarice) did in Duryodhana.
Delusive lust did in Ravana.
Hubris did in Surapadman.
Envy did in Sisupalan.
Page 78. My dear friend!
Do not earn enmity because the other is an insignificant person. Because of hunch-backed Gūni, the coronation of the eldest son of the king could not take place.
An elephant wanted to see its face in the well water. The frog in the well jumped; the stillness of water was disturbed; the elephant left unable to see its face. Therefore, do not look down upon the little guy, thinking he could not do anything to you.
A rubber snake is enough to scatter a crowd. Therefore, you live without earning enmity of anyone. That would give you great benefits.
Page 79. My dear friend!
Elephant has three (ruts) kinds of secretions during musth: Streams from the temples, trunk and genitalia. Likewise, men have three kinds of rut (hubris, arrogance): Superiority by caste, wealth and education. By these three kinds of hubris, man destroys himself. Therefore, consider that God gave you caste, wealth and education; do not think you are higher than others; obtain the fruits of birth by living in humility and self-control.
Page 80. My dear friend!
There are three entities, not left unattended or unextinguished.
Agni Sesham (šēṣa) = Fire Remainder
RuNa Sesham = Debt Remainder
Sathru Sesham = Enemy Remainder
In the night, the fire should be extinguished without a remainder. If not, mouse and such creatures would drag a combustible and leave it in the fireplace, resulting in a fire.
The loan should be paid off. If there is a remainder, the interest will bear litter and increase in amount.
The enemy should be destroyed completely. Otherwise, he will induce others to join him.
Page 81. My dear friend!
The one who talks in the language of love is a wife.
The one in whom happiness springs is a son.
The one who engenders confidence is a friend.
The place where living is certain is nation.
The one who protects the subjects is a king.
The time we do not think of God is our time.
What is spent and destroyed in Dharma is ours. (Do Dharma at all costs.)
Page 82. My friend!
However, many good qualities a man has, there is one quality that can destroy all the good qualities. By identifying it, one should remove it.
Fire incinerates trees, grass and dried leaves. Avarice (லோபம்) the evil quality will destroy all the good qualities of man.
Avarice is the root cause of anger and the like sins. Therefore, you never let avarice afflict you.
“உளப்பரும் பிணிப்புறா உலோபம் ஒன்றுமே
அளப்பருங் குணங்களை அழிக்கும்” –கம்பர்
Avarice would destroy many good qualities.
Page 83. My dear friend!
Great sacred water.
Ganges water is great.
Greater than that is water from ritual ablution of a deity.
Greater than that is the perspiration droplets that appear on the face of the good virtuous person in his service to the poor.
Page 84. My dear friend!
No one can be a good man for all and cannot make all happy.
The moon offers cool ambrosial rays of light.
All living beings become joyous on seeing the full moon. But the lotus flowers become buds on seeing the full moon. What evil did moon do to the lotus flower? Not one evil.
Some ignoramuses deride, hate, and entertain enmity towards the do-good virtuous people as the case is with the moon. Because of that, no defect will come to the good people.
Page 85. My dear friend!
We do to God Arati (ஆராதனை = worship God with flowers and fruits). Samārāthanai (சமாராதனை) is offering worship to the devotees of God. What we do to devotees is counted as an offer to God. The worship offered to God is not counted as worship of devotees.
The letters dropped in the post office boxes on the sidewalks of the streets go to the central post office. The letters posted in the central post office do not come to the post office boxes on the sidewalks.
Contrary to it, we feed the cow grass and grains and draw milk from its udders.
The devotees (அடியார் = the one who serves at the feet of the Lord) are the mouth; God is the udder. What you serve to the devotees of god appears as the milk of god’s grace.
Page 86. My dear friend!
There are five causes of enmity.
Woman, gold, speech, birth, crimes are the ones you should know.
A woman was the cause of enmity between Kannapiran and Sisupalan. Gold (kingdom) was the cause of enmity between Pandavas and Kauravas. Speech was the cause of enmity between Drona and Drupada. Between mouse and cat; and snake and mongoose; there is no cause for enmity: it is their birth (nature).
Page 87. My dear friend!
Great men would seek and come to us. Do not think they are low. Because they came to us, it does not diminish their greatness.
Vile men go looking for ignoramuses. Do not think the vile men are great.
Milk, curds, buttermilk and butter trudge the streets to our house. Because of that, does their greatness diminish?
Toddy gets sold out in the primary place of business without going anywhere. Many go looking for it. Because of it, should we think toddy is great?
Page 88. My dear friend!
The Brahmanas lacking contentment sustain a loss. A contented king can sustain a loss. A prostitute with shyness can sustain a loss. A virtuous family woman without bashfulness can sustain a loss. The one with jealousy will not thrive. A warrior with patience will not attain greatness.
Page 89. My dear friend!
Trifling objects attain greatness on reaching great men. The object of great value, on reaching vile man, does not confer greatness to itself or the owner.
The Halahala poison reaching Siva in his throat earned greatness.
Amirta or Ambrosia on reaching Rahu did not receive greatness.
Page 90. My dear friend!
Sadhus only face great difficulties.
Men do not kill and eat bothersome animals like dog, fox, snake, scorpion, tiger… (Exception: In the Fareast and some in the west do eat these animals.)
Mankind kills and eats the animals of peace and service to man such as sheep, goat, cow, chicken fish…
Page 91. My dear friend!
A house without occupation by people comes to a ruin.
The land without friends is ruinous.
A mind without educational knowledge is a ruin.
The body of a person without a sibling is a ruin.
A man without chastity of his wife is a ruin.
Know that poverty is all ruin.
Page 92. My dear friend!
Base men (கயவர்கள்) praise each other. When they see each other, they extoll, “Oh, what greatness. What rarity.”
Only when you extol great men, it is greatness.
In the wedding ceremony of the camel, the donkey sings songs. The camel on hearing the donkey’s song, extols the greatness of the voice.

Seeing the body form of the camel, the donkey praises its glorious appearance.
Page 93. My dear friend!
Sastras say, “aputrasya katirnasthi” (= the childless has no salvation).
It is important to know the inside meaning of this aphorism. The following Jnanis (sages) had no children: Hanuman, Bhishma, Tiruvalluvar, Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar, Tirunilakantar, Iyarpakaiyar,Arunagirinathar, Sivaprakasar, Kumaraguruparar, Sivagnana Swamigal, Iramalingar, RamakrishnaParamahamsar, Vivekananthar, and Arumuga Navalar. Does that mean, they would not get salvation?
Won’t it be that parturient cat, rat, dog, sheep, cow…would obtain salvation?
The compassionate one, who considers all life forms as his children, is the true begetter of children. The above-mentioned sages have all life forms as their children. Manivasagar says, “மைந்தர் பல்லுயிரும்.” (All life forms are our children.)
Therefore, regard all life forms as your children. Give love. You will get salvation.
Page 94. My dear friend!
One minute anger; next minute happiness. You should not have friendship with the one whose moods change from one minute to the next minute. The benefits from and friendship with the person devoid of a strong mind are dangerous.
A friendship based on his benefit from you should be spurned.
Some coming to you would look for what you have. The benefactor will forget you sooner than transfer of that benefit.
Move with a person who is like a cow.
Do not move with a person who is like a snake.
The cow yields milk on getting from you worthless bran, straw and chaff (தவிடு, வைக்கோல், பொட்டு). The snake takes milk from you and yields poison.
Page 95. My dear friend!
Do not gargle your mouth and spit on your right side. That will cause distress to the manes.
Cooked rice, clarified butter and salt should not be served by hand.
Saturdays and Tuesdays are not good for ritual tonsure (சவுளம்).
Milk carried in copper vessel and tender coconut water carried in a bell metal (வெண்கலம்) pot are equal to toddy.
The flowers sitting on a castor oil leaf and in palm-leaf basket are not suitable for Puja or worship.
Holy basil for Vinayaka, spathe of coconut for Siva, Gooseberry (Emblic myrobalan) for Parvathi, harialli grass-Cynodon dactylon- for the Sun, Nanthiyavarththam flower for Bhairava and aṭcatai for Tirumal should not be offered in worship.
Nanthiyavarththam = East Indian rosebay, Taberæmontana coronaria.
அட்சதை aṭcatai : Unbroken grains of rice mixed with turmeric or saffron, used in benediction or worship.

Page 96. My dear friend!
It is better to stay close when you offer help. Do not be disrespectful on account of his tender years.
Rama took the help of Vanaras in building the bridge and killed Ravana (the abductor of Sita).
Polished rice is superior; the chaff is inferior: The polished rice by itself will not yield crops; only (intact) rice with the help of chaff will yield crops.
Unimportant people (in your opinion) like the bran or chaff can help you accomplish big things. In the humongous Street Car (தேர்), the small cotter pin holds the wheel in place, so the car can move. When the cotter pin is absent, the car will not move. Therefore, help is essential. Even a bit of straw (துரும்பு) is of help. One, taking help and attached to a zero: the number grows.
Page 97. My dear friend!
Speak sweat like a parrot.
Think of God like a heron with one-pointedness.
Chew your food well and eat like a sheep.
Take a bath like an elephant.
Behave like a grateful dog.
Know and take cues like the crow.
Work hard like a honeybee.
For good health, worship God.
For wealth, worship Agni, the god of fire.
For wisdom, worship Muruga.
For health, worship Tirumal.
For strength, worship Ambikai.
Page 98. My dear friend!
For the goodness of a family, one should give up a person; for the sake of the village, you may give up the family; for the sake of the nation give up the village; for the benefit of your soul, give up the world.
The one who gives up everything will be happy.
"Gave up the World." Pattinaththar. He gave up his kingdom and became a recluse.
Page 99. My dear friend!
Life shortens because five entities: Severe heat, the smoke from the crematorium, sexual intercourse with an older woman, the stagnant water in a pond, eating curd-rice in the night.
Evening sun, smoke from sacrificial pit, young wife, spring water, nightly rice-milk are the five which will prolong life.
Spreading the mat by your hand, application of wooden seat by your hand, and serving yourself rice are the three causes of shortening of life.
Page 100. My dear friend!
Equality can be the nature of elders. There will be a disparity in wealth. Sandalwood paste and cow dung would not be equal. Pit and mound are not equal.
But for the high flyer in the plane, the pit and mound are one and the same (and no cause for concern).
The eldest son is the chief justice. The youngest is a coolie. These two have disparate and different feelings. But the begetting (biological) mother serves them both equally.
Therefore, the great men with the mind of a mother have the lofty feeling of equality (towards others).
Page 101. My dear friend!
The world will not take notice, however many evils you harbor. The world will applaud and respect you, if you have the slightest virtue in you. The flower of the screw pine tree (தாழம்பூ) is surrounded by snakes; it has no fruits, but full of needles. It grows in muddy and slurry earth. The only redeeming quality of this plant is the fragrance, it exudes. People like the fragrance and so wear the flowers. The fragrance as the good quality has obliterated all the evil or disadvantages of this plant.
Page 102. My dear friend!
There are no impossible acts for the one with a knack.
The hard worker needs not to go too far.
A true learned man does not have to go abroad. In his own country, he will obtain respect, accolades and prizes.
The man with genuinely sweet words will not have enemies.
Sweat words as a sharp weapon will get a victory over enemies.
Page 103. My dear friend!
The mumukshu (who desires liberation) has no guile. The flesh eater has no mercy. The greedy does not have justice. The lascivious has no ethics. The Supreme Sage has no happiness or misery. The one devoid of avidity has no distress.
Page 104. My dear friend!
The sins committed against Brahma can be destroyed by appeasing Vishnu. Sins committed against Vishnu are destroyed by appeasing Siva. Sins committed against Siva are destroyed by Guru’s mercy. Sins committed against the Guru are indestructible like Indra’s weapon, Vajra. Therefore, do not commit any sin against the Guru. Guru-dhrokam (treachery against the Guru) is most serious and hard.
Page 105. My dear friend!
Happiness and unhappiness are companions. Happiness and unhappiness do not remain as lone entities.
Where there is water, there is bound to be a slurry soft mud. If you go for a swim in the ocean, expect waves. If you pick a rose flower, you will have a thorn on the stem. In the cobra, both poison and gem are present.
Rice and husk are integral to each other. In Jack fruit, the fleshy part is integral with the silk of the jack fruit.
Page 106. My dear friend!
 

Jñāni and wisdom are friends. Ignoramus and stupidity are friends. Likewise, poets, drunkards…have the affinity with their own kind. Rama, who lost his kingdom and wife, became friends with Sugriva who lost his kingdom and his wife.
Rama killed Vāli and restored the kingdom and his wife to Sugriva.
Sugriva helped Rama in springing Sita from the prison. Therefore, one should have friendship with like-minded people.

Page 107. My dear friend!
Do not be a motor-mouth. That is a deficiency. Curtail speech and increase proper action.
The always-sounding anklets are on the feet. The silent ornaments grace the neck and the head.
Page 108. My dear friend! One who does evil to the do-gooder is a sinner. The brave are the ones who do not harm the evil doers. The highest of human beings tolerate the evil of the evil-doers and move away from them. The ones who do the good to the evil-doers are the best among the greatest human beings. Great men not only do the good to the evil doers but also pray to God to forgive their sins. Because of these great men, the world does not suffer tsunamis and earthquakes.
Page 109. My dear friend!
One should dip into the river and lake with clothes on. After immersion, one should not wring the clothes in the lake and river. One should not eat with one piece of cloth. One should not attend an assembly with one piece of cloth on. One should not drink water with two palms together.
One who eats looking down lives long. One who eats looking up becomes rich. The ones who eat looking south will have rising fame. The ones who eat looking north will have worsening of their diseases. One should not lay down with the head to the north. One should offer worship looking north.
The gold vein in the earth goes looking north.
Page 110. My dear friend!
One should not eat in the night ginger, solid yogurt, curry leaf, gooseberry. If eaten, Lakshmi would abandon you.
In the night, it is better to go to the bed with the head to the south. Men should lie on the left side of the body, the women to the right side of the body. One should go to sleep thinking of God.
Page 111. My dear friend!
Eating, sleeping and progeny are common between man and animals. As there is a border stone between two districts, there is a border line between man and animal. Thinking of God is the border stone of separation between man and animal. Therefore, you may not eat and sleep, but do not remain without god in your thoughts. Offer blessings to God; because of it, you will lead a sweet life.
Page 112. My dear friend!
May God’s sacred name prosper;
Bhoga, Yoga and Moksa (earthly pleasures, union with God and liberation) are your rewards from him.
May The Supreme Being’s feet prosper;
May the virtuous path prosper; May love in religion prosper;
May grace and joy prosper; May all living beings prosper.
End