Chapter 28: Imposture

வஞ்ச மனத்தான் படிற்றொழுக்கம் பூதங்கள்
ஐந்தும் அகத்தே நகும்.

Vanja Manaththaan Patitrozhukkam Poodhangal
Aindhum Akaththe Nakum

Elements five of feigned life Of a sly hypocrite within laugh

Meaning: The five elements (of his body) will laugh within him at the feigned conduct of the deceitful minded man

வானுயர் தோற்றம் எவன்செய்யும் தன்னெஞ்சம்
தான்அறி குற்றப் படின்.

Vaanuyar Thotram Evanseyyum Thannenjam
Thaanari Kutrap Patin

Of what avail are sky-high shows When guild the conscience gnaws and knows

Meaning: What avails an appearance (of sanctity) high as heaven, if his mind suffers (the indulgence) of conscious sin

வலியில் நிலைமையான் வல்லுருவம் பெற்றம்
புலியின்தோல் போர்த்துமேய்ந் தற்று.

Valiyil Nilaimaiyaan Valluruvam Petram
Puliyindhol Porththumeyn Thatru

Vaunting sainthood while week within Seems a grazer with tiger skin

Meaning: The assumed appearance of power, by a man who has no power (to restrain his senses and perform austerity), is like a cow feeding on grass covered with a tiger's skin

தவமறைந்து அல்லவை செய்தல் புதல்மறைந்து
வேட்டுவன் புள்சிமிழ்த் தற்று.

Thavamaraindhu Allavai Seydhal Pudhalmaraindhu
Vettuvan Pulsimizhth Thatru

Sinning in saintly show is like Fowlers in ambush birds to strike

Meaning: He who hides himself under the mask of an ascetic and commits sins, like a sportsman who conceals himself in the thicket to catch birds

பற்றற்றேம் என்பார் படிற்றொழுக்கம் எற்றெற்றென்று
ஏதம் பலவுந் தரும்.

Patratrem Enpaar Patitrozhukkam Etretrendru
Edham Palavun Tharum

Who false within but freedom feign Shall moan \"What have we done\" with pain

Meaning: The false conduct of those who say they have renounced all desire will one day bring them sorrows that will make them cry out, "Oh! what have we done, what have we done."

நெஞ்சின் துறவார் துறந்தார்போல் வஞ்சித்து
வாழ்வாரின் வன்கணார் இல்.

Nenjin Thuravaar Thurandhaarpol Vanjiththu
Vaazhvaarin Vankanaar Il

Vilest is he who seems a saint Cheating the world without restraint

Meaning: Amongst living men there are none so hard-hearted as those who without to saking (desire) in their heart, falsely take the appearance of those who have forsaken (it)

புறங்குன்றி கண்டனைய ரேனும் அகங்குன்றி
முக்கிற் கரியார் உடைத்து.

Purangundri Kantanaiya Renum Akangundri
Mukkir Kariyaar Utaiththu

Berry-red is his outward view, Black like its nose his inward hue

Meaning: (The world) contains persons whose outside appears (as fair) as the (red) berry of the Abrus, but whose inside is as black as the nose of that berry

மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார் நீராடி
மறைந்தொழுகு மாந்தர் பலர்.

Manaththadhu Maasaaka Maantaar Neeraati
Maraindhozhuku Maandhar Palar

Filthy in mind some bathe in streams Hiding sins in showy extremes

Meaning: There are many men of masked conduct, who perform their ablutions, and (make a show) of

கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல்.

Kanaikotidhu Yaazhkotu Sevvidhuaang Kanna
Vinaipatu Paalaal Kolal

Know men by acts and not by forms Strait arrow kills, bent lute but charms

Meaning: As, in its use, the arrow is crooked, and the curved lute is straight, so by their deeds, (and not by their appearance) let (the uprightness or crookedness of) men be estimated

மழித்தலும் நீட்டலும் வேண்டா உலகம்
பழித்தது ஒழித்து விடின்.

Mazhiththalum Neettalum Ventaa Ulakam
Pazhiththadhu Ozhiththu Vitin

No balding nor tangling the hair! Abstain from condemned acts with care

Meaning: There is no need of a shaven crown, nor of tangled hair, if a man abstain from those deeds which the wise have condemned