Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Prologue (பாயிரவியல்) — The Praise of God (கடவுள் வாழ்த்து)

Kural 1:
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு.
agara Mudhala ezhuththellaam aadhi
Pakavan Mudhatre ulaku
English couplet:
A, as its first of letters, every speech maintains;
The "Primal Deity" is first through all the world's domains
Explanation: As the letter A is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the world

Kural 2:
கற்றதனால் ஆய பயனென்கொல் வாலறிவன்
நற்றாள் தொழாஅர் எனின்.
Katradhanaal aaya Payanen kol VaalaRivan
natraal Thozhaaar enin
English couplet:
No fruit have men of all their studied lore,
Save they the 'Purely Wise One's' feet adore
Explanation: What Profit have those derived from learning, who worship not the good feet of Him who is possessed of pure knowledge?

Kural 3:
மலர்மிசை ஏகினான் மாணடி சேர்ந்தார்
நிலமிசை நீடுவாழ் வார்.
Malarmisai Ekinaan MaaNati saerndhaar
nilamisai needuvaazh Vaar
English couplet:
His feet, 'Who o'er the full-blown flower hath past,' who gain
In bliss long time shall dwell above this earthly plain
Explanation: They who are united to the glorious feet of Him who passes swiftly over the flower of the mind, shall flourish long above all worlds

Kural 4:
வேண்டுதல் வேண்டாமை இலானடி சேர்ந்தார்க்கு
யாண்டும் இடும்பை இல.
VaeNduthal VaeNdaamai ilaanati saerndhaarkku
YaaNtum idumpai ila
English couplet:
His foot, 'Whom want affects not, irks not grief,' who gain
Shall not, through every time, of any woes complain
Explanation: To those who meditate the feet of Him who is void of desire or aversion, evil shall never come

Kural 5:
இருள்சேர் இருவினையும் சேரா இறைவன்
பொருள்சேர் புகழ்புரிந்தார் மாட்டு.
iruLsaer iruvinaiyum saeraa iRaivan
PoruLsaer Pukazhpurindhaar Maattu
English couplet:
The men, who on the 'King's' true praised delight to dwell,
Affects not them the fruit of deeds done ill or well
Explanation: The two-fold deeds that spring from darkness shall not adhere to those who delight in the true praise of God

Kural 6:
பொறிவாயில் ஐந்தவித்தான் பொய்தீர் ஒழுக்க
நெறிநின்றார் நீடுவாழ் வார்.
PoRivaayil aindhaviththaan Poidheer ozhukka
neRinhindraar needuvaazh Vaar
English couplet:
Long live they blest, who 've stood in path from falsehood freed;
His, 'Who quenched lusts that from the sense-gates five proceed'
Explanation: Those shall long proposer who abide in the faultless way of Him who has destroyed the five desires of the senses

Kural 7:
தனக்குவமை இல்லாதான் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால்
மனக்கவலை மாற்றல் அரிது.
Thanakkuvamai illaadhaan ThaaLsaerndhaark Kallaal
Manakkavalai Maatral aridhu
English couplet:
Unless His foot, 'to Whom none can compare,' men gain,
'Tis hard for mind to find relief from anxious pain
Explanation: Anxiety of mind cannot be removed, except from those who are united to the feet of Him who is incomparable

Kural 8:
அறவாழி அந்தணன் தாள்சேர்ந்தார்க் கல்லால்
பிறவாழி நீந்தல் அரிது.
aRavaazhi andhaNan ThaaLsaerndhaark Kallaal
PiRavaazhi neendhal aridhu
English couplet:
Unless His feet 'the Sea of Good, the Fair and Bountiful,' men gain,
'Tis hard the further bank of being's changeful sea to attain
Explanation: None can swim the sea of vice, but those who are united to the feet of that gracious Being who is a sea of virtue

Kural 9:
கோளில் பொறியின் குணமிலவே எண்குணத்தான்
தாளை வணங்காத் தலை.
KoaLil PoRiyin Kunamilave eNkuNaththaan
ThaaLai VaNangaath Thalai
English couplet:
Before His foot, 'the Eight-fold Excellence,' with unbent head,
Who stands, like palsied sense, is to all living functions dead
Explanation: The head that worships not the feet of Him who is possessed of eight attributes, is as useless as a sense without the power of sensation

Kural 10:
பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர் நீந்தார்
இறைவன் அடிசேரா தார்.
PiRavip Perungatal neendhuvar neendhaar
iRaivan adiseraa Thaar
English couplet:
They swim the sea of births, the 'Monarch's' foot who gain;
None others reach the shore of being's mighty main
Explanation: None can swim the great sea of births but those who are united to the feet of God