Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Prologue (பாயிரவியல்) — The Greatness of Ascetics (நீத்தார் பெருமை)

Kural 21:
ஒழுக்கத்து நீத்தார் பெருமை விழுப்பத்து
வேண்டும் பனுவல் துணிவு.
ozhukkaththu neeththaar perumai vizhuppaththu
vendum panuval thuNivu
English couplet:
The settled rule of every code requires, as highest good,
Their greatness who, renouncing all, true to their rule have stood
Explanation: The end and aim of all treatise is to extol beyond all other excellence, the greatness of those who, while abiding in the rule of conduct peculiar to their state, have abandoned all desire

Kural 22:
துறந்தார் பெருமை துணைக்கூறின் வையத்து
இறந்தாரை எண்ணிக்கொண் டற்று.
thuRandhaar perumai thuNaikkooRin vaiyaththu
iRandhaarai eNNikkoN tatru
English couplet:
As counting those that from the earth have passed away,
'Tis vain attempt the might of holy men to say
Explanation: To describe the measure of the greatness of those who have forsaken the two-fold desires, is like counting the dead

Kural 23:
இருமை வகைதெரிந்து ஈண்டுஅறம் பூண்டார்
பெருமை பிறங்கிற்று உலகு.
irumai vakaidherinh theeNdaRam pooNdaar
perumai piRangitru ulagu
English couplet:
Their greatness earth transcends, who, way of both worlds weighed,
In this world take their stand, in virtue's robe arrayed
Explanation: The greatness of those who have discovered the properties of both states of being, and renounced the world, shines forth on earth (beyond all others)

Kural 24:
உரனென்னும் தோட்டியான் ஓரைந்தும் காப்பான்
வரனென்னும் வைப்பிற்கோர் வித்தது.
uranennum thoettiyaan Oraindhum kaappaan
varanennum vaippirkoer viththu.
English couplet:
He, who with firmness, curb the five restrains,
Is seed for soil of yonder happy plains
Explanation: He who guides his five senses by the hook of wisdom will be a seed in the world of heaven

Kural 25:
ஐந்தவித்தான் ஆற்றல் அகல்விசும்பு ளார்கோமான்
இந்திரனே சாலுங் கரி.
aindhaviththaan aatral akalvisumpu Laarkoemaan
indhirane saalunG kari
English couplet:
Their might who have destroyed 'the five', shall soothly tell
Indra, the lord of those in heaven's wide realms that dwell
Explanation: Indra, the king of the inhabitants of the spacious heaven, is himself, a sufficient proof of the strength of him who has subdued his five senses

Kural 26:
செயற்கரிய செய்வார் பெரியர் சிறியர்
செயற்கரிய செய்கலா தார்.
seyaRkariya seyvaar periyar siRiyar
seyaRkariya seykalaa thaar
English couplet:
Things hard in the doing will great men do;
Things hard in the doing the mean eschew
Explanation: The great will do those things which is difficult to be done; but the mean cannot do them

Kural 27:
சுவைஒளி ஊறுஓசை நாற்றமென ஐந்தின்
வகைதெரிவான் கட்டே உலகு.
suvaioLi ooRuosai naatramena aindhin
vagaidherivaan katte ulagu
English couplet:
Taste, light, touch, sound, and smell: who knows the way
Of all the five,- the world submissive owns his sway
Explanation: The world is within the knowledge of him who knows the properties of taste, sight, touch, hearing and smell

Kural 28:
நிறைமொழி மாந்தர் பெருமை நிலத்து
மறைமொழி காட்டி விடும்.
NiRaimozhi maandhar perumai nilaththu
maRaimozhi kaatti vidum
English couplet:
The might of men whose word is never vain,
The 'secret word' shall to the earth proclaim
Explanation: The hidden words of the men whose words are full of effect, will shew their greatness to the world

Kural 29:
குணமென்னும் குன்றேறி நின்றார் வெகுளி
கணமேயும் காத்தல் அரிது.
kuNamennum kundraeRi nindraar vekuLi
kaNamaeyum kaaththal aridhu
English couplet:
The wrath 'tis hard e'en for an instant to endure,
Of those who virtue's hill have scaled, and stand secure
Explanation: The anger of those who have ascended the mountain of goodness, though it continue but for a moment, cannot be resisted

Kural 30:
அந்தணர் என்போர் அறவோர்மற் றெவ்வுயிர்க்கும்
செந்தண்மை பூண்டொழுக லான்.
andhaNar enboar aRavormaR Revvuyirkkum
sendhaNmai poondozhuga laan
English couplet:
Towards all that breathe, with seemly graciousness adorned they live;
And thus to virtue's sons the name of 'Anthanar' men give
Explanation: The virtuous are truly called Anthanar; because in their conduct towards all creatures they are clothed in kindness