The Possession of Self-control
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kākka poruḷā aṭakkattai ākkam / ataṉiṉ ūṅkillai uyirkku
Guard your self-control as your one true treasure — life holds no greater wealth than this.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Guard thou as wealth the power of self-control; / Than this no greater gain to living soul!”
“Guard thy self-control as a very treasure: life hath no richer wealth here below.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உயிர்க்கு அதனின் ஊங்கு ஆக்கம் இல்லை = உயிர்கட்கு அடக்கத்தின் மிக்க செல்வம் இல்லை; அடக்கத்தைப் பொருளாக் காக்க = ஆகலான் அவ் அடக்கத்தை உறுதிப்பொருளாகக் கொண்டு அழியாமற் காக்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
For a living soul there is no wealth greater than self-control; so hold it as your one sure treasure and keep it from being lost. It is the possession that secures every other.