Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Ascetic Virtue (துறவறவியல்) — Imposture (கூடாவொழுக்கம்)

Kural 271:
வஞ்ச மனத்தான் படிற்றொழுக்கம் பூதங்கள்
ஐந்தும் அகத்தே நகும்.
vanja manaththaan patitrozhukkam poodhangaL
aindhum akaththae nakum
English couplet:
Who with deceitful mind in false way walks of covert sin,
The five-fold elements his frame compose, decide within.
Explanation: The five elements (of his body) will laugh within him at the feigned conduct of the deceitful minded man.

Kural 272:
வானுயர் தோற்றம் எவன்செய்யும் தன்னெஞ்சம்
தான்அறி குற்றப் படின்.
vaanuyar thoatram evanseyyum thannenjam
thaanaRi kutrap patin
English couplet:
What gain, though virtue's semblance high as heaven his fame exalt,
If heart dies down through sense of self-detected fault?.
Explanation: What avails an appearance (of sanctity) high as heaven, if his mind suffers (the indulgence) of conscious sin.

Kural 273:
வலியில் நிலைமையான் வல்லுருவம் பெற்றம்
புலியின்தோல் போர்த்துமேய்ந் தற்று.
valiyil nilaimaiyaan valluruvam petram
puliyinthoal poarththumaeynh thatru
English couplet:
As if a steer should graze wrapped round with tiger's skin,
Is show of virtuous might when weakness lurks within.
Explanation: The assumed appearance of power, by a man who has no power (to restrain his senses and perform austerity), is like a cow feeding on grass covered with a tiger's skin.

Kural 274:
தவமறைந்து அல்லவை செய்தல் புதல்மறைந்து
வேட்டுவன் புள்சிமிழ்த் தற்று.
thavamaRaindhu allavai seydhal pudhalmaRaindhu
vaettuvan puLsimizhth thatru
English couplet:
'Tis as a fowler, silly birds to snare, in thicket lurks.
When, clad in stern ascetic garb, one secret evil works.
Explanation: He who hides himself under the mask of an ascetic and commits sins, like a sportsman who conceals himself in the thicket to catch birds.

Kural 275:
பற்றற்றேம் என்பார் படிற்றொழுக்கம் எற்றெற்றென்று
ஏதம் பலவுந் தரும்.
patratraem enpaar patitrozhukkam etretrendru
Edham palavunh tharum
English couplet:
'Our souls are free,' who say, yet practise evil secretly,
'What folly have we wrought!' by many shames o'er-whelmed, shall cry.
Explanation: The false conduct of those who say they have renounced all desire will one day bring them sorrows that will make them cry out, "Oh! what have we done, what have we done".

Kural 276:
நெஞ்சின் துறவார் துறந்தார்போல் வஞ்சித்து
வாழ்வாரின் வன்கணார் இல்.
nenjin thuRavaar thuRandhaarpoal vanjiththu
vaazhvaarin van-kaNaar il
English couplet:
In mind renouncing nought, in speech renouncing every tie,
Who guileful live,- no men are found than these of 'harder eye'.
Explanation: Amongst living men there are none so hard-hearted as those who without to saking (desire) in their heart, falsely take the appearance of those who have forsaken (it).

Kural 277:
புறங்குன்றி கண்டனைய ரேனும் அகங்குன்றி
முக்கிற் கரியார் உடைத்து.
puRangundri kaNdanaiya raenum agangundri
mukkiR kariyaar udaiththu
English couplet:
Outward, they shine as 'kunri' berry's scarlet bright;
Inward, like tip of 'kunri' bead, as black as night.
Explanation: (The world) contains persons whose outside appears (as fair) as the (red) berry of the Abrus, but whose inside is as black as the nose of that berry.

Kural 278:
மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார் நீராடி
மறைந்தொழுகு மாந்தர் பலர்.
manaththadhu maasaaka maaNdaar neeraadi
maRaindhozhuku maandhar palar
English couplet:
Many wash in hollowed waters, living lives of hidden shame;
Foul in heart, yet high upraised of men in virtuous fame.
Explanation: There are many men of masked conduct, who perform their ablutions, and (make a show) of greatness, while their mind is defiled (with guilt).

Kural 279:
கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல்.
kaNaikotidhu yaazhkoadu sevvidhuaanG kanna
vinaipatu paalaal koLal
English couplet:
Cruel is the arrow straight, the crooked lute is sweet,
Judge by their deeds the many forms of men you meet.
Explanation: As, in its use, the arrow is crooked, and the curved lute is straight, so by their deeds, (and not by their appearance) let (the uprightness or crookedness of) men be estimated.

Kural 280:
மழித்தலும் நீட்டலும் வேண்டா உலகம்
பழித்தது ஒழித்து விடின்.
mazhiththalum neettalum vaeNdaa ulagam
pazhiththadhu ozhiththu vitin
English couplet:
What's the worth of shaven head or tresses long,
If you shun what all the world condemns as wrong?.
Explanation: There is no need of a shaven crown, nor of tangled hair, if a man abstain from those deeds which the wise have condemned.