Virtue (அறத்துப்பால்) — Ascetic Virtue (துறவறவியல்) — Curbing of Desire (அவாவறுத்தல்)

Kural 361:
அவாஎன்ப எல்லா உயிர்க்கும் எஞ்ஞான்றும்
தவாஅப் பிறப்பீனும் வித்து.
avaaenpa ellaa uyirkkum enhjnhjaandrum
thavaaap piRappeenum viththu
English couplet:
The wise declare, through all the days, to every living thing.
That ceaseless round of birth from seed of strong desire doth spring.
Explanation: (The wise) say that the seed, which produces unceasing births, at all times, to all creatures, is desire.

Kural 362:
வேண்டுங்கால் வேண்டும் பிறவாமை மற்றது
வேண்டாமை வேண்ட வரும்.
vaeNdungaal vaeNdum piRavaamai matradhu
vaeNdaamai vaeNta varum
English couplet:
If desire you feel, freedom from changing birth require!
'I' will come, if you desire to 'scape, set free from all desire.
Explanation: If anything be desired, freedom from births should be desired; that (freedom from births) will be attained by desiring to be without desire.

Kural 363:
வேண்டாமை அன்ன விழுச்செல்வம் ஈண்டில்லை
ஆண்டும் அஃதொப்பது இல்.
vaeNdaamai anna vizhuchchelvam eeNtillai
aaNdum aqdhoppadhu il
English couplet:
No glorious wealth is here like freedom from desire;
To bliss like this not even there can soul aspire.
Explanation: There is in this world no excellence equal to freedom from desire; and even in that world, there is nothing like it.

Kural 364:
தூஉய்மை என்பது அவாவின்மை மற்றது
வாஅய்மை வேண்ட வரும்.
thoouymai enpadhu avaavinmai matradhu
vaaimai vaeNta varum
English couplet:
Desire's decease as purity men know;
That, too, from yearning search for truth will grow.
Explanation: Purity (of mind) consists in freedom from desire; and that (freedom from desire) is the fruit of the love of truth.

Kural 365:
அற்றவர் என்பார் அவாஅற்றார் மற்றையார்
அற்றாக அற்றது இலர்.
atravar enpaar avaaatraar matraiyaar
atraaka atradhu ilar
English couplet:
Men freed from bonds of strong desire are free;
None other share such perfect liberty.
Explanation: They are said to be free (from future birth) who are freed from desire; all others (who, whatever else they may be free from, are not freed from desire) are not thus free.

Kural 366:
அஞ்சுவ தோரும் அறனே ஒருவனை
வஞ்சிப்ப தோரும் அவா.
anjuva thoarum aRanae oruvanai
vanjippa thoarum avaa
English couplet:
Desire each soul beguiles;
True virtue dreads its wiles.
Explanation: It is the chief duty of (an ascetic) to watch against desire with (jealous) fear; for it has power to deceive (and destroy) him.

Kural 367:
அவாவினை ஆற்ற அறுப்பின் தவாவினை
தான்வேண்டு மாற்றான் வரும்.
avaavinai aatra aRuppin thavaavinai
thaanvaendu maatraan varum
English couplet:
Who thoroughly rids his life of passion-prompted deed,
Deeds of unfailing worth shall do, which, as he plans, succeed.
Explanation: If a man thoroughly cut off all desire, the deeds, which confer immortality, will come to him, in the path in which he seeks them.

Kural 368:
அவாஇல்லார்க் கில்லாகுந் துன்பம் அஃதுண்டேல்
தவாஅது மேன்மேல் வரும்.
avaa-illaark killaakunh thunpam aqdhuNdael
thavaaadhu maenmael varum
English couplet:
Affliction is not known where no desires abide;
Where these are, endless rises sorrow's tide.
Explanation: There is no sorrow to those who are without desire; but where that is, (sorrow) will incessantly come, more and more.

Kural 369:
இன்பம் இடையறா தீண்டும் அவாவென்னும்
துன்பத்துள் துன்பங் கெடின்.
inpam idaiyaRaa theeNdum avaavennum
thunpaththuL thunpanG ketin
English couplet:
When dies away desire, that woe of woes
Ev'n here the soul unceasing rapture knows.
Explanation: Even while in this body, joy will never depart (from the mind, in which) desire, that sorrow of sorrows, has been destroyed.

Kural 370:
ஆரா இயற்கை அவாநீப்பின் அந்நிலையே
பேரா இயற்கை தரும்.
aaraa iyaRkai avaanheeppin anhnhilaiyae
paeraa iyaRkai tharum
English couplet:
Drive from thy soul desire insatiate;
Straight'way is gained the moveless blissful state.
Explanation: The removal of desire, whose nature it is never to be satisfied, will immediately confer a nature that can never be changed.