Couplet: Of things devoid of truth as real things men deem;- Cause of degraded birth the fond delusive dream English Explanation: Inglorious births are produced by the confusion (of mind) which considers those things to be real which are not real Transliteration: Porulalla Vatraip Porulendru Unarum Marulaanaam Maanaap Pirappu
Couplet: Darkness departs, and rapture springs to men who see, The mystic vision pure, from all delusion free English Explanation: A clear, undimmed vision of things will deliver its possessors from the darkness of future births, and confer the felicity (of heaven) Transliteration: Irulneengi Inpam Payakkum Marulneengi Maasaru Kaatchi Yavarkku
Couplet: When doubts disperse, and mists of error roll Away, nearer is heav'n than earth to sage's soul English Explanation: Heaven is nearer than earth to those men of purified minds who are freed from from doubt Transliteration: Aiyaththin Neengith Thelindhaarkku Vaiyaththin Vaanam Naniya Thutaiththu
Couplet: Five-fold perception gained, what benefits accrue To them whose spirits lack perception of the true English Explanation: Even those who have all the knowledge which can be attained by the five senses, will derive no benefit from it, if they are without a knowledge of the true nature of things Transliteration: Aiyunarvu Eydhiyak Kannum Payamindre Meyyunarvu Illaa Thavarkku
Couplet: Whatever thing, of whatsoever kind it be, 'Tis wisdom's part in each the very thing to see English Explanation: (True) knowledge is the perception concerning every thing of whatever kind, that that thing is the true thing Transliteration: Epporul Eththanmaith Thaayinum Apporul Meypporul Kaanpadhu Arivu
Couplet: Who learn, and here the knowledge of the true obtain, Shall find the path that hither cometh not again English Explanation: They, who in this birth have learned to know the True Being, enter the road which returns not into this world Transliteration: Katreentu Meypporul Kantaar Thalaippatuvar Matreentu Vaaraa Neri
Couplet: The mind that knows with certitude what is, and ponders well, Its thoughts on birth again to other life need not to dwell English Explanation: Let it not be thought that there is another birth for him whose mind having thoroughly considered (all it has been taught) has known the True Being Transliteration: Orththullam Ulladhu Unarin Orudhalaiyaap Perththulla Ventaa Pirappu
Couplet: When folly, cause of births, departs; and soul can view The truth of things, man's dignity- 'tis wisdom true English Explanation: True knowledge consists in the removal of ignorance; which is (the cause of) births, and the perception of the True Being who is (the bestower of) heaven Transliteration: Pirappennum Pedhaimai Neengach Chirappennum Semporul Kaanpadhu Arivu
Couplet: The true 'support' who knows- rejects 'supports' he sought before- Sorrow that clings all destroys, shall cling to him no more English Explanation: He who so lives as to know Him who is the support of all things and abandon all desire, will be freed from the evils which would otherwise cleave to him and destroy (his efforts after absorption) Transliteration: Saarpunarndhu Saarpu Ketaozhukin Matrazhiththuch Chaardharaa Saardharu Noi
Couplet: When lust and wrath and error's triple tyranny is o'er, Their very names for aye extinct, then pain shall be no more English Explanation: If the very names of these three things, desire, anger, and confusion of mind, be destroyed, then will also perish evils (which flow from them) Transliteration: Kaamam Vekuli Mayakkam Ivaimundran Naamam Ketakketum Noi