Austerity
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
vēṇṭiya vēṇṭiyāṅ keytalāṟ ceytava / mīṇṭu muyalap paṭum
“That what they wish may, as they wish, be won, / By men on earth are works of painful 'penance' done.”
“Tapas fulfilleth all desires even in the very manner that is desired: therefore is it that men endeavour after tapas in this world.”
Because austerity is believed to yield each desired result in the desired way, wise people undertake it here in this life.
Ask about this Kural
Answers are drawn only from this Kural's sourced text and named commentary, and always cite what they used.
Choose a section
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
(இதன்பொருள்) வேண்டிய வேண்டியாஙகு எய்தலால்= முயன்றால் மறுமைக்கண் தாம் வேண்டிய பயன்கள் வேண்டியவாறே பெறலாம் ஆதலால்; செய்தவம் ஈண்டு முயலப்படும்= செய்யப்படுவதாய தவம் இம்மைக்கண் அறிவுடையோரான் முயலப்படும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Because the disciplined practice of austerity enables one to attain noble aspirations precisely as desired, wise individuals diligently cultivate it in this earthly existence.