Thirurkual | Learning | 396-400

Number 396 : The deeper a well is dug, the more the water that springs; the more one learns, the more the wisdom it brings.

Number 397 : For the learned, every nation is their nation; and every place their place; why then, does one shun learning till death.

Number 398 : Learning acquired once will stand in good stead for seven births.

Number 399 : Seeing that what they enjoy, the world enjoys too, the erudite fall more in love with learning.

Number 400 : Learning is the indestructubile, and significant, wealth; other riches are not true wealth.

Thirurkual | Learning | 391-395

Number 391 : Learn, what is to be learnt, with no flaws; once learnt, stand by what you learned

Number 392 : Numbers and letters, they are known as; eyes to humans, they are.

Number 393 : The erudite have eyes; the ignorant have on their faces, two gashes.

Number 394 : Elation when they meet, and nostalgia when they part, are effects of the erudite’s deeds.

Number 395: Learned are those, who, like the poor before rich, stay humble before others, lovingly, to learn; those who thus don’t learn are lowly.

Thirukural | Qualities of a ruler | 386-390

Number 386 : The world will eulogize a ruler , who is easily accessible and refrains from rude rebukes.

Number 387 : For those who, with sweet words, are capable of giving generously and protecting their people, the world is how they wish it to be.

Number 388 : A righteous king who renders justice, and nurtures his people, will be hailed as an almighty leader.

Number 389 : The leader who heeds to counsel that stings the ear, will have the world rest under his sceptre.

Number 390 : Charity, love, justice and safeguarding the people: who has these four is the guiding light for all leaders.

Thirukural | Qualities of a ruler | 381-385

Number 381 : The military, citizenry, resources, advisers, friends and fortresses : who owns these six is a lion amongst kings.

Number 382 : Fearlessness, generosity, wisdom and vitality: these four are persistent characteristics expected of a king.

Number 383 : Vigilance, erudition and boldness: these three never abandon a competent ruler.

Number 384 : Not swerving from righteousness and justice (aram); and deterring any violations; assuming greatness and pride through benevolent courage : a ruler should do.

Number 385 : Strategizing, earning revenues, preserving and allocating resources : a government should be capable of.

Thirukrual | Ool* (karma) | 375-380

Number 376 : Strive hard, we may; but what we don’t deserve doesn’t stay, and what we deserve, we can’t dispose.

Number 377 : One may amass wealth worth crores, but can consume only as ordained by the Ordainer (based on ool).

Number 378 : Even those who possess nothing to enjoy will ‘renounce’, if only one can escape the misery that is to be suffered.

Number 379 : Why bemoan the misery caused by ool, when one enjoys the good without complaint.

Number 380 : Is there anything mightier than ool? It remains dominant despite all plans devised to counter it.

Thirukrual | Ool* (karma) | 371-375

Number 371 : Constructive ool causes tireless endeavor leading to prosperity; destructive ool causes indolence.

Number 372 : Malign ool blunts one’s intelligence; in its turn, benign ool sharpens it.

Number 373 : Even if knowledge comes through profound books, one’s innate wisdom remains dominant.

Number 374 : The world is stratified based on two factors: wealth and wisdom; and, they are not correlated.

Number 375 : While seeking wealth, positive aspects can turn harmful; and negative aspects beneficial.

Thirukural | Relinquishing desire | 366-370

Number 366 : Desire is a deceptive trap; fearing it, is a virtue.

Number 367 : One can do flawless deeds the way one wants to do, when desire is destroyed completely.

Number 368 : Those who are devoid of desire are free from misery; for others, it keeps piling up

Number 369 : When desire, the misery of miseries, is decimated, unending joy abounds.

Number 370 : Eternal bliss ensues, when insatiable desire ends.

Thirukural | Relinquishing desire | 361-365

Number 361 : Desire is the seed which, for all lives, unfailingly, leads to an endless cycle of birth.

Number 362 : If you desire, desire for freedom from birth; desiring not to desire, too, leads to that freedom.

Number 363 : There is no wealth here better than lack of desire; nowhere else is there anything that equals it.

Number 364 : Purity is absence of desire; which, is obtained through the quest for truth.

Number 365 : Only those who’ve renounced desire have renounced; the rest, who’ve renounced all else, have not truly renounced.