Chapter 37: Curbing of Desire

அவாஎன்ப எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
தவாஅப் பிறப்பீனும் வித்து.

Avaaenpa Ellaa Uyirkkum Enj
Gnaandrum Thavaaap Pirappeenum Viththu

Desire to all, always is seed From which ceaseless births proceed

Meaning: (The wise) say that the seed, which produces unceasing births, at all times, to all creatures, is desire

வேண்டுங்கால் வேண்டும் பிறவாமை மற்றது
வேண்டாமை வேண்ட வரும்.

Ventungaal Ventum Piravaamai Matradhu
Ventaamai Venta Varum

If long thou must, long for non-birth It comes by longing no more for earth

Meaning: If anything be desired, freedom from births should be desired; that (freedom from births) will be attained by desiring to be without desire

வேண்டாமை அன்ன விழுச்செல்வம் ஈண்டில்லை
ஆண்டும் அஃதொப்பது இல்.

Ventaamai Anna Vizhuchchelvam Eentillai
Aantum Aqdhoppadhu Il

No such wealth is here and there As peerless wealth of non-desire

Meaning: There is in this world no excellence equal to freedom from desire; and even in that world, there is nothing like it

தூஉய்மை என்பது அவாவின்மை மற்றது
வாஅய்மை வேண்ட வரும்.

Thoouymai Enpadhu Avaavinmai Matradhu
Vaaaimai Venta Varum

To nothing crave is purity That is the fruit of verity

Meaning: Purity (of mind) consists in freedom from desire; and that (freedom from desire) is the fruit of the love of truth

அற்றவர் என்பார் அவாஅற்றார் மற்றையார்
அற்றாக அற்றது இலர்.

Atravar Enpaar Avaaatraar Matraiyaar
Atraaka Atradhu Ilar

The free are those who desire not The rest not free in bonds are caught

Meaning: They are said to be free (from future birth) who are freed from desire; all others (who, whatever else they may be free from, are not freed from desire) are not thus free

அஞ்சுவ தோரும் அறனே ஒருவனை
வஞ்சிப்ப தோரும் அவா.

Anjuva Thorum Arane Oruvanai
Vanjippa Thorum Avaa

Dread desire; Virtue is there To every soul desire is snare!

Meaning: It is the chief duty of (an ascetic) to watch against desire with (jealous) fear; for it has power to deceive (and destroy) him

அவாவினை ஆற்ற அறுப்பின் தவாவினை
தான்வேண்டு மாற்றான் வரும்.

Avaavinai Aatra Aruppin Thavaavinai
Thaanventu Maatraan Varum

Destroy desire; deliverance Comes as much as you aspire hence

Meaning: If a man thoroughly cut off all desire, the deeds, which confer immortality, will come to him, in the path in which he seeks them

அவாஇல்லார்க் கில்லாகுந் துன்பம் அஃதுண்டேல்
தவாஅது மேன்மேல் வரும்.

Avaaillaark Killaakun Thunpam Aqdhuntel
Thavaaadhu Menmel Varum

Desire extinct no sorrow-taints Grief comes on grief where it pretends

Meaning: There is no sorrow to those who are without desire; but where that is, (sorrow) will incessantly come, more and more

இன்பம் இடையறா தீண்டும் அவாவென்னும்
துன்பத்துள் துன்பங் கெடின்.

Inpam Itaiyaraa Theentum Avaavennum
Thunpaththul Thunpang Ketin

Desire, the woe of woes destroy Joy of joys here you enjoy

Meaning: Even while in this body, joy will never depart (from the mind, in which) desire, that sorrow of sorrows, has been destroyed

ஆரா இயற்கை அவாநீப்பின் அந்நிலையே
பேரா இயற்கை தரும்.

Aaraa Iyarkai Avaaneeppin Annilaiye
Peraa Iyarkai Tharum

Off with desire insatiate You gain the native blissful state

Meaning: The removal of desire, whose nature it is never to be satisfied, will immediately confer a nature that can never be changed