Couplet: Smile, with patient, hopeful heart, in troublous hour; Meet and so vanquish grief; nothing hath equal power English Explanation: If troubles come, laugh; there is nothing like that, to press upon and drive away sorrow Transliteration: Itukkan Varungaal Nakuka Adhanai Atuththoorvadhu Aqdhoppa Thil
Couplet: Though sorrow, like a flood, comes rolling on, When wise men's mind regards it,- it is gone English Explanation: A flood of troubles will be overcome by the (courageous) thought which the minds of the wise will entertain, even in sorrow Transliteration: Vellath Thanaiya Itumpai Arivutaiyaan Ullaththin Ullak Ketum
Couplet: Who griefs confront with meek, ungrieving heart, From them griefs, put to grief, depart English Explanation: They give sorrow to sorrow, who in sorrow do not suffer sorrow Transliteration: Itumpaikku Itumpai Patuppar Itumpaikku Itumpai Pataaa Thavar
Couplet: Like bullock struggle on through each obstructed way; From such an one will troubles, troubled, roll away English Explanation: Troubles will vanish (i.e., will be troubled) before the man who (struggles against difficulties) as a Transliteration: Matuththavaa Yellaam Pakatannaan Utra Itukkan Itarppaatu Utaiththu
Couplet: When griefs press on, but fail to crush the patient heart, Then griefs defeated, put to grief, depart English Explanation: The troubles of that man will be troubled (and disappear) who, however thickly they may come upon him, does not abandon (his purpose) Transliteration: Atukki Varinum Azhivilaan Utra Itukkan Itukkat Patum
Couplet: Who boasted not of wealth, nor gave it all their heart, Will not bemoan the loss, when prosperous days depart English Explanation: Will those men ever cry out in sorrow, "we are destitute" who, (in their prosperity), give not way to (undue desire) to keep their wealth Transliteration: Atremendru Allar Patupavo Petremendru Ompudhal Thetraa Thavar
Couplet: 'Man's frame is sorrow's target', the noble mind reflects, Nor meets with troubled mind the sorrows it expects English Explanation: The great will not regard trouble as trouble, knowing that the body is the butt of trouble Transliteration: Ilakkam Utampitumpaik Kendru Kalakkaththaik Kaiyaaraak Kollaadhaam Mel
Couplet: He seeks not joy, to sorrow man is born, he knows; Such man will walk unharmed by touch of human woes English Explanation: That man never experiences sorrow, who does not seek for pleasure, and who considers distress to be natural (to man) Transliteration: Inpam Vizhaiyaan Itumpai Iyalpenpaan Thunpam Urudhal Ilan
Couplet: Mid joys he yields not heart to joys' control Mid sorrows, sorrow cannot touch his soul English Explanation: He does not suffer sorrow, in sorrow who does not look for pleasure in pleasure Transliteration: Inpaththul Inpam Vizhaiyaadhaan Thunpaththul Thunpam Urudhal Ilan
Couplet: Who pain as pleasure takes, he shall acquire The bliss to which his foes in vain aspire English Explanation: The elevation, which even his enemies will esteem, will be gained by him, who regards pain as pleasure Transliteration: Innaamai Inpam Enakkolin Aakundhan Onnaar Vizhaiyunj Chirappu