Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Prologue (பாயிரவியல்) — Assertion of the Strength of Virtue (அறன் வலியுறுத்தல்)

Kural 31:
சிறப்புஈனும் செல்வமும் ஈனும் அறத்தினூஉங்கு
ஆக்கம் எவனோ உயிர்க்கு.
sirappueenum selvamum eenum aRaththinooungu
aakkam evanoe uyirkku
English couplet:
It yields distinction, yields prosperity; what gain
Greater than virtue can a living man obtain
Explanation: Virtue will confer heaven and wealth; what greater source of happiness can man possess ?

Kural 32:
அறத்தினூஉங்கு ஆக்கமும் இல்லை அதனை
மறத்தலின் ஊங்கில்லை கேடு.
aRaththinooungu aakkamum illai adhanai
maRaththalin oongillai Kaedu
English couplet:
No greater gain than virtue aught can cause;
No greater loss than life oblivious of her laws
Explanation: There can be no greater source of good than (the practice of) virtue; there can be no greater source of evil than the forgetfulness of it

Kural 33:
ஒல்லும் வகையான் அறவினை ஓவாதே
செல்லும்வாய் எல்லாஞ் செயல்.
ollum Vakaiyaan aRavinai Ovaadhe
sellumvaai ellaaGn cheyal
English couplet:
To finish virtue's work with ceaseless effort strive,
What way thou may'st, where'er thou see'st the work may thrive
Explanation: As much as possible, in every way, incessantly practise virtue

Kural 34:
மனத்துக்கண் மாசிலன் ஆதல் அனைத்தறன்
ஆகுல நீர பிற.
manaththukkaN maasilan aadhal anaiththaRan
aakula neera piRa
English couplet:
Spotless be thou in mind! This only merits virtue's name;
All else, mere pomp of idle sound, no real worth can claim
Explanation: Let him who does virtuous deeds be of spotless mind; to that extent is virtue; all else is vain show

Kural 35:
அழுக்காறு அவாவெகுளி இன்னாச்சொல் நான்கும்
இழுக்கா இயன்றது அறம்.
azhukkaaRu avaavekuLi innaachchol naankum
izhukkaa iyandradhu aRam
English couplet:
'Tis virtue when, his footsteps sliding not through envy, wrath,
Lust, evil speech-these four, man onwards moves in ordered path
Explanation: That conduct is virtue which is free from these four things, viz, malice, desire, anger and bitter speech

Kural 36:
அன்றறிவாம் என்னாது அறஞ்செய்க மற்றது
பொன்றுங்கால் பொன்றாத் துணை.
andraRivaam ennaadhu aRanjeyka matradhu
pondrungaal pondraath thunai
English couplet:
Do deeds of virtue now Say not, 'To-morrow we'll be wise';
Thus, when thou diest, shalt thou find a help that never dies
Explanation: Defer not virtue to another day; receive her now; and at the dying hour she will be your undying friend

Kural 37:
அறத்தாறு இதுவென வேண்டா சிவிகை
பொறுத்தானோடு ஊர்ந்தான் இடை.
aRaththaaRu ithuvena vaeNtaa sivikai
poRuththaanodu oorndhaan idai
English couplet:
Needs not in words to dwell on virtue's fruits: compare
The man in litter borne with them that toiling bear
Explanation: The fruit of virtue need not be described in books; it may be inferred from seeing the bearer of a palanquin and the rider therein

Kural 38:
வீழ்நாள் படாஅமை நன்றாற்றின் அஃதொருவன்
வாழ்நாள் வழியடைக்கும் கல்.
veezhnhaaL Pataaamai nandraatrin aqdhoruvan
vaazhnhaaL vazhiyataikkum kal
English couplet:
If no day passing idly, good to do each day you toil,
A stone it will be to block the way of future days of moil
Explanation: If one allows no day to pass without some good being done, his conduct will be a stone to block up the passage to other births

Kural 39:
அறத்தான் வருவதே இன்பம் மற்றெல்லாம்
புறத்த புகழும் இல.
aRaththaan varuvadhe inpam MatRellaam
puRaththa pukazhum ila
English couplet:
What from virtue floweth, yieldeth dear delight;
All else extern, is void of glory's light
Explanation: Only that pleasure which flows from domestic virtue is pleasure; all else is not pleasure, and it is without praise

Kural 40:
செயற்பால தோரும் அறனே ஒருவற்கு
உயற்பால தோரும் பழி.
seyaRpaala thoarum aRanae oruvaRku
uyaRpaala thorum pazhi
English couplet:
'Virtue' sums the things that should be done;
'Vice' sums the things that man should shun
Explanation: That is virtue which each ought to do, and that is vice which each should shun