Thirukkural · அறத்துப்பால் · துறவறவியல்

அவா அறுத்தல்: Curbing of Desire

Chapter 37 of 133 (Avaavaruththal) · Virtue · Ascetic Virtue · Kurals 361 to 370

About this chapter

அவா அறுத்தல், curbing of desire, names desire (அவா) as the cause of all suffering and the seed of repeated births. It closes the run of chapters on renunciation with the claim that freedom from desire is the greatest wealth.

Kural 361 calls desire the seed that produces unceasing births. Kural 362 gives a paradox in a form that echoes Kural 350: if one must desire something, desire release from births, which comes by desiring to be without desire. Kural 363 states that no wealth in this world equals freedom from desire, and none in the next either. Kural 364 links purity to the absence of desire and says that this comes from the love of truth, and Kural 365 calls those freed from desire the truly free. Kural 366 warns that desire deceives, so virtue should fear it, and Kural 367 promises that someone who has fully cut off desire will find his lasting deeds succeed as he plans. Kural 368 says sorrow does not come to those without desire, but where desire exists it keeps coming. Kural 369 calls desire the sorrow of sorrows, and says joy never leaves when it is destroyed. Kural 370 ends with the claim that removing insatiable desire at once brings an unchanging state.

Kural 363 and Kural 368 are the two to know. Both state the chapter's point in plain terms.

For the syllabus, the chapter fits the universal value of contentment.

The 10 kurals of அவா அறுத்தல்

Each kural is shown in Tamil with a transliteration and G. U. Pope's English verse translation. Open a kural for its plain English meaning.

Kural 361

அவாஎன்ப எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
தவாஅப் பிறப்பீனும் வித்து.

Avaaenpa Ellaa Uyirkkum Enj
Gnaandrum Thavaaap Pirappeenum Viththu

The wise declare, through all the days, to every living thingThat ceaseless round of birth from seed of strong desire doth spring

Kural 362

வேண்டுங்கால் வேண்டும் பிறவாமை மற்றது
வேண்டாமை வேண்ட வரும்.

Ventungaal Ventum Piravaamai Matradhu
Ventaamai Venta Varum

If desire you feel, freedom from changing birth require!'I' will come, if you desire to 'scape, set free from all desire

Kural 363

வேண்டாமை அன்ன விழுச்செல்வம் ஈண்டில்லை
ஆண்டும் அஃதொப்பது இல்.

Ventaamai Anna Vizhuchchelvam Eentillai
Aantum Aqdhoppadhu Il

No glorious wealth is here like freedom from desire; To bliss like this not even there can soul aspire

Kural 364

தூஉய்மை என்பது அவாவின்மை மற்றது
வாஅய்மை வேண்ட வரும்.

Thoouymai Enpadhu Avaavinmai Matradhu
Vaaaimai Venta Varum

Desire's decease as purity men know; That, too, from yearning search for truth will grow

Kural 365

அற்றவர் என்பார் அவாஅற்றார் மற்றையார்
அற்றாக அற்றது இலர்.

Atravar Enpaar Avaaatraar Matraiyaar
Atraaka Atradhu Ilar

Men freed from bonds of strong desire are free; None other share such perfect liberty

Kural 366

அஞ்சுவ தோரும் அறனே ஒருவனை
வஞ்சிப்ப தோரும் அவா.

Anjuva Thorum Arane Oruvanai
Vanjippa Thorum Avaa

Desire each soul beguiles; True virtue dreads its wiles

Kural 367

அவாவினை ஆற்ற அறுப்பின் தவாவினை
தான்வேண்டு மாற்றான் வரும்.

Avaavinai Aatra Aruppin Thavaavinai
Thaanventu Maatraan Varum

Who thoroughly rids his life of passion-prompted deed, Deeds of unfailing worth shall do, which, as he plans, succeed

Kural 368

அவாஇல்லார்க் கில்லாகுந் துன்பம் அஃதுண்டேல்
தவாஅது மேன்மேல் வரும்.

Avaaillaark Killaakun Thunpam Aqdhuntel
Thavaaadhu Menmel Varum

Affliction is not known where no desires abide; Where these are, endless rises sorrow's tide

Kural 369

இன்பம் இடையறா தீண்டும் அவாவென்னும்
துன்பத்துள் துன்பங் கெடின்.

Inpam Itaiyaraa Theentum Avaavennum
Thunpaththul Thunpang Ketin

When dies away desire, that woe of woesEv'n here the soul unceasing rapture knows

Kural 370

ஆரா இயற்கை அவாநீப்பின் அந்நிலையே
பேரா இயற்கை தரும்.

Aaraa Iyarkai Avaaneeppin Annilaiye
Peraa Iyarkai Tharum

Drive from thy soul desire insatiate; Straight'way is gained the moveless blissful state

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