Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Ascetic Virtue (துறவறவியல்) — Instability (நிலையாமை)

Kural 331:
நில்லாத வற்றை நிலையின என்றுணரும்
புல்லறி வாண்மை கடை.
nillaadha vatrai nilaiyina endrunarum
pullaRi vaaNmai kadai
English couplet:
Lowest and meanest lore, that bids men trust secure,
In things that pass away, as things that shall endure!.
Explanation: That ignorance which considers those things to be stable which are not so, is dishonourable (to the wise).

Kural 332:
கூத்தாட்டு அவைக்குழாத் தற்றே பெருஞ்செல்வம்
போக்கும் அதுவிளிந் தற்று.
kooththaattu avaikkuzhaath thatrae perunjelvam
poakkum adhuviLinh thatru
English couplet:
As crowds round dancers fill the hall, is wealth's increase;
Its loss, as throngs dispersing, when the dances cease.
Explanation: The acquisition of wealth is like the gathering together of an assembly for a theatre; its expenditure is like the breaking up of that assembly.

Kural 333:
அற்கா இயல்பிற்றுச் செல்வம் அதுபெற்றால்
அற்குப ஆங்கே செயல்.
aRkaa iyalpitruch selvam adhupetraal
aRkupa aangae seyal
English couplet:
Unenduring is all wealth; if you wealth enjoy,
Enduring works in working wealth straightway employ.
Explanation: Wealth is perishable; let those who obtain it immediately practise those (virtues) which are imperishable.

Kural 334:
நாளென ஒன்றுபோற் காட்டி உயிர்ஈரும்
வாளது உணர்வார்ப் பெறின்.
naaLena ondrupoaR kaatti uyireerum
vaaLadhu uNarvaarp peRin
English couplet:
As 'day' it vaunts itself; well understood, 'tis knife',
That daily cuts away a portion from thy life.
Explanation: Time, which shows itself (to the ignorant) as if it were something (real) is in the estimation of the wise (only) a saw which cuts down life.

Kural 335:
நாச்செற்று விக்குள்மேல் வாராமுன் நல்வினை
மேற்சென்று செய்யப் படும்.
naachchetru vikkuLmael vaaraamun nalvinai
maeRsendru seyyap padum
English couplet:
Before the tongue lie powerless, 'mid the gasp of gurgling breath,
Arouse thyself, and do good deeds beyond the power of death.
Explanation: Let virtuous deeds be done quickly, before the biccup comes making the tongue silent.

Kural 336:
நெருநல் உளனொருவன் இன்றில்லை என்னும்
பெருமை உடைத்துஇவ் வுலகு.
nerunhal uLanoruvan indrillai ennum
perumai udaiththuiv vulagu
English couplet:
Existing yesterday, today to nothing hurled!-
Such greatness owns this transitory world.
Explanation: This world possesses the greatness that one who yesterday was is not today.

Kural 337:
ஒருபொழுதும் வாழ்வது அறியார் கருதுப
கோடியும் அல்ல பல.
orupozhudhum vaazhvadhu aRiyaar karudhupa
koatiyum alla pala
English couplet:
Who know not if their happy lives shall last the day,
In fancies infinite beguile the hours away!.
Explanation: Innumerable are the thoughts which occupy the mind of (the unwise), who know not that they shall live another moment.

Kural 338:
குடம்பை தனித்துஒழியப் புள்பறந் தற்றே
உடம்பொடு உயிரிடை நட்பு.
kutampai thaniththuozhiyap puLparanh thatrae
udampotu uyiridai natpu
English couplet:
Birds fly away, and leave the nest deserted bare;
Such is the short-lived friendship soul and body share.
Explanation: The love of the soul to the body is like (the love of) a bird to its egg which it flies away from and leaves empty.

Kural 339:
உறங்கு வதுபோலுஞ் சாக்காடு உறங்கி
விழிப்பது போலும் பிறப்பு.
uRangu vadhupoalunhj saakkaatu uRangi
vizhippadhu poalum piRappu
English couplet:
Death is sinking into slumbers deep;
Birth again is waking out of sleep.
Explanation: Death is like sleep; birth is like awaking from it.

Kural 340:
புக்கில் அமைந்தின்று கொல்லோ உடம்பினுள்
துச்சில் இருந்த உயிர்க்கு.
pukkil amaindhindru kolloa udampinuL
thuchchil irundha uyirkku
English couplet:
The soul in fragile shed as lodger courts repose:-
Is it because no home's conclusive rest it knows?.
Explanation: It seems as if the soul, which takes a temporary shelter in a body, had not attained a home.