Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Domestic Virtue (இல்லறவியல்) — The Worth of a Wife (வாழ்க்கைத் துணைநலம்)

Kural 51:
மனைக்தக்க மாண்புடையள் ஆகித்தற் கொண்டான்
வளத்தக்காள் வாழ்க்கைத் துணை.
manaikdhakka maaNpudaiyaL aakiththaR KoNdaan
vaLaththakkaaL vaazhkkaith thuNai
English couplet:
As doth the house beseem, she shows her wifely dignity;
As doth her husband's wealth befit, she spends: help - meet is she
Explanation: She who has the excellence of home virtues, and can expend within the means of her husband, is a help in the domestic state

Kural 52:
மனைமாட்சி இல்லாள்கண் இல்லாயின் வாழ்க்கை
எனைமாட்சித் தாயினும் இல்.
manaimaatchi illaaLkaN illaayin vaazhkkai
enaimaatchith thaayinum il
English couplet:
If household excellence be wanting in the wife,
Howe'er with splendour lived, all worthless is the life
Explanation: If the wife be devoid of domestic excellence, whatever (other) greatness be possessed, the conjugal state, is nothing

Kural 53:
இல்லதென் இல்லவள் மாண்பானால் உள்ளதென்
இல்லவள் மாணாக் கடை?
illadhen illavaL maaNpaanaal uLLadhen
illavaL maaNaak Kadai?
English couplet:
There is no lack within the house, where wife in worth excels,
There is no luck within the house, where wife dishonoured dwells
Explanation: If his wife be eminent (in virtue), what does (that man) not possess ? If she be without excellence, what does (he) possess ?

Kural 54:
பெண்ணின் பெருந்தக்க யாவுள கற்பென்னும்
திண்மைஉண் டாகப் பெறின்.
peNNin perundhakka yaavula kaRpennum
thiNmaiuN daagap peRin
English couplet:
If woman might of chastity retain,
What choicer treasure doth the world contain
Explanation: What is more excellent than a wife, if she possess the stability of chastity ?

Kural 55:
தெய்வம் தொழாஅள் கொழுநன் தொழுதெழுவாள்
பெய்யெனப் பெய்யும் மழை.
theyvam thozhaaaL kozhunhan thozhudhezhuvaaL
peyyenap peyyum mazhai
English couplet:
No God adoring, low she bends before her lord;
Then rising, serves: the rain falls instant at her word
Explanation: If she, who does not worship God, but who rising worships her husband, say, "let it rain," it will rain

Kural 56:
தற்காத்துத் தற்கொண்டாற் பேணித் தகைசான்ற
சொற்காத்துச் சோர்விலாள் பெண்.
thaRkaaththuth thaRkoNtaaR paeNith thakaisaandra
soRkaaththuch soarvilaaL peN
English couplet:
Who guards herself, for husband's comfort cares, her household's fame,
In perfect wise with sleepless soul preserves, -give her a woman's name
Explanation: She is a wife who unweariedly guards herself, takes care of her husband, and preserves an unsullied fame

Kural 57:
சிறைகாக்கும் காப்பெவன் செய்யும் மகளிர்
நிறைகாக்கும் காப்பே தலை.
siRaikaakkum kaappevan seyyum makaLir
niRaikaakkum kaappae thalai
English couplet:
Of what avail is watch and ward?
Honour's woman's safest guard
Explanation: What avails the guard of a prison ? The chief guard of a woman is her chastity

Kural 58:
பெற்றாற் பெறின்பெறுவர் பெண்டிர் பெருஞ்சிறப்புப்
புத்தேளிர் வாழும் உலகு.
petraaR peRinpeRuvar peNdir perunjiRappup
puththaeLir vaazhum ulagu
English couplet:
If wife be wholly true to him who gained her as his bride,
Great glory gains she in the world where gods bliss abide
Explanation: If women shew reverence to their husbands, they will obtain great excellence in the world where the gods flourish

Kural 59:
புகழ்புரிந்த இல்லிலோர்க்கு இல்லை இகழ்வார்முன்
ஏறுபோல் பீடு நடை.
pukazhpurindha illiloarkku illai ikazhvaarmun
ERupoal peedu nadai
English couplet:
Who have not spouses that in virtue's praise delight,
They lion-like can never walk in scorner's sight
Explanation: The man whose wife seeks not the praise (of chastity) cannot walk with lion-like stately step, before those who revile them

Kural 60:
மங்கலம் என்ப மனைமாட்சி மற்று அதன்
நன்கலம் நன்மக்கட் பேறு.
mangalam enpa manaimaatchi matru adhan
nankalam nanmakkat peru
English couplet:
The house's 'blessing', men pronounce the house-wife excellent;
The gain of blessed children is its goodly ornament
Explanation: The excellence of a wife is the good of her husband; and good children are the jewels of that goodness