Couplet: The wise declare, through all the days, to every living thing That ceaseless round of birth from seed of strong desire doth spring English Explanation: (The wise) say that the seed, which produces unceasing births, at all times, to all creatures, is desire Transliteration: Avaaenpa Ellaa Uyirkkum Enj Gnaandrum Thavaaap Pirappeenum Viththu
Couplet: If desire you feel, freedom from changing birth require! 'I' will come, if you desire to 'scape, set free from all desire English Explanation: If anything be desired, freedom from births should be desired; that (freedom from births) will be attained by desiring to be without desire Transliteration: Ventungaal Ventum Piravaamai Matradhu Ventaamai Venta Varum
Couplet: No glorious wealth is here like freedom from desire; To bliss like this not even there can soul aspire English Explanation: There is in this world no excellence equal to freedom from desire; and even in that world, there is nothing like it Transliteration: Ventaamai Anna Vizhuchchelvam Eentillai Aantum Aqdhoppadhu Il
Couplet: Desire's decease as purity men know; That, too, from yearning search for truth will grow English Explanation: Purity (of mind) consists in freedom from desire; and that (freedom from desire) is the fruit of the love of truth Transliteration: Thoouymai Enpadhu Avaavinmai Matradhu Vaaaimai Venta Varum
Couplet: Men freed from bonds of strong desire are free; None other share such perfect liberty English 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 Transliteration: Atravar Enpaar Avaaatraar Matraiyaar Atraaka Atradhu Ilar
Couplet: Desire each soul beguiles; True virtue dreads its wiles English 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 Transliteration: Anjuva Thorum Arane Oruvanai Vanjippa Thorum Avaa
Couplet: Who thoroughly rids his life of passion-prompted deed, Deeds of unfailing worth shall do, which, as he plans, succeed English 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 Transliteration: Avaavinai Aatra Aruppin Thavaavinai Thaanventu Maatraan Varum
Couplet: Affliction is not known where no desires abide; Where these are, endless rises sorrow's tide English Explanation: There is no sorrow to those who are without desire; but where that is, (sorrow) will incessantly come, more and more Transliteration: Avaaillaark Killaakun Thunpam Aqdhuntel Thavaaadhu Menmel Varum
Couplet: When dies away desire, that woe of woes Ev'n here the soul unceasing rapture knows English Explanation: Even while in this body, joy will never depart (from the mind, in which) desire, that sorrow of sorrows, has been destroyed Transliteration: Inpam Itaiyaraa Theentum Avaavennum Thunpaththul Thunpang Ketin
Couplet: Drive from thy soul desire insatiate; Straight'way is gained the moveless blissful state English Explanation: The removal of desire, whose nature it is never to be satisfied, will immediately confer a nature that can never be changed Transliteration: Aaraa Iyarkai Avaaneeppin Annilaiye Peraa Iyarkai Tharum