Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Ascetic Virtue (துறவறவியல்) — Penance (தவம்)

Kural 261:
உற்றநோய் நோன்றல் உயிர்க்குறுகண் செய்யாமை
அற்றே தவத்திற் குரு.
utranhoai noandral uyirkkuRukaN seyyaamai
atrae thavaththiR guru
English couplet:
To bear due penitential pains, while no offence
He causes others, is the type of 'penitence'.
Explanation: The nature of religious discipline consists, in the endurance (by the ascetic) of the sufferings which it brings on himself, and in abstaining from giving pain to others.

Kural 262:
தவமும் தவமுடையார்க்கு ஆகும் அதனை
அஃதிலார் மேற்கொள் வது.
thavamum thavamutaiyaarkku aakum adhanai
aqdhilaar maeRkoL vadhu
English couplet:
To 'penitents' sincere avails their 'penitence';
Where that is not, 'tis but a vain pretence.
Explanation: Austerities can only be borne, and their benefits enjoyed, by those who have practised them (in a former birth); it will be useless for those who have not done so, to attempt to practise them (now).

Kural 263:
துறந்தார்க்குத் துப்புரவு வேண்டி மறந்தார்கொல்
மற்றை யவர்கள் தவம்.
thuRandhaarkkuth thuppuravu vaeNdi maRandhaarkol
matrai yavarkaL thavam
English couplet:
Have other men forgotten 'penitence' who strive
To earn for penitents the things by which they live?.
Explanation: It is to provide food etc, for the ascetics who have abandoned (the desire of earthly possessions) that other persons have forgotten (to practise) austerity ?.

Kural 264:
ஒன்னார்த் தெறலும் உவந்தாரை ஆக்கலும்
எண்ணின் தவத்தான் வரும்.
onnaarth theRalum uvandhaarai aakkalum
eNNin thavaththaan varum
English couplet:
Destruction to his foes, to friends increase of joy.
The 'penitent' can cause, if this his thoughts employ.
Explanation: If (the ascetic) desire the destruction of his enemies, or the aggrandizement of his friends, it will be effected by (the power of) his austerities.

Kural 265:
வேண்டிய வேண்டியாங் கெய்தலால் செய்தவம்
ஈண்டு முயலப் படும்.
vaeNdiya vaeNtiyaang keydhalaal seydhavam
eeNdu muyalap padum
English couplet:
That what they wish may, as they wish, be won,
By men on earth are works of painful 'penance' done.
Explanation: Religious dislipline is practised in this world, because it secures the attainment of whatever one may wish to enjoy (in the world to come).

Kural 266:
தவஞ்செய்வார் தங்கருமஞ் செய்வார்மற் றல்லார்
அவஞ்செய்வார் ஆசையுட் பட்டு.
thavanhjseyvaar thangarumanhj seyvaarmaR Rallaar
avanjeyvaar aasaiyut pattu
English couplet:
Who works of 'penance' do, their end attain,
Others in passion's net enshared, toil but in vain.
Explanation: Those discharge their duty who perform austerities; all others accomplish their own destruction, through the entanglement of the desire (of riches and sensual pleasure).

Kural 267:
சுடச்சுடரும் பொன்போல் ஒளிவிடும் துன்பஞ்
சுடச்சுட நோற்கிற் பவர்க்கு.
sudachchudarum ponpoal oLivitum thunpanhj
sudachsudaa noaRkiR pavarkku
English couplet:
The hotter glows the fining fire, the gold the brighter shines;
The pain of penitence, like fire, the soul of man refines.
Explanation: Just as gold is purified as heated in the fire, will those shine, who have endured the burning of pain (in frequent austerities).

Kural 268:
தன்னுயிர் தான்அறப் பெற்றானை ஏனைய
மன்னுயி ரெல்லாந் தொழும்.
thannuyir thaan-aRap petraanai Enaiya
mannuyi rellaanh thozhum
English couplet:
Who gains himself in utter self-control,
Him worships every other living soul.
Explanation: All other creatures will worship him who has attained the control of his own soul.

Kural 269:
கூற்றம் குதித்தலும் கைகூடும் நோற்றலின்
ஆற்றல் தலைப்பட் டவர்க்குல்.
kootram kudhiththalum kaikootum noatralin
aatral thalaippat tavarkkul
English couplet:
The E'en over death the victory he may gain,
If power by penance won his soul obtain.
Explanation: Those who have attained the power which religious discipline confers, will be able also to pass the limit of Yama, (the God of death).

Kural 270:
இலர்பல ராகிய காரணம் நோற்பார்
சிலர்பலர் நோலா தவர்.
ilarpala raakiya kaaraNam noaRpaar
silarpalar noalaa thavar
English couplet:
The many all things lack! The cause is plain,
The 'penitents' are few. The many shun such pain.
Explanation: Because there are few who practise austerity and many who do not, there are many destitute and few rich in this world.