Perfection (By St. Thiruvalluvar In Tamil) Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

981.To those who know their duty and rein over their qualities
It is not surprising to have the attributes of good character.
982.The merit of perfect men ensures from their good characteristics.
All other merits of physique are not virtues of perfection.
983.Love, modesty, beneficence, kind grace and truth
Are the five pillars supporting the virtues of perfection.
984.Penance has the virtue of not killing any being.
Not giving voice to the ills of others is a virtue of perfection.
985.Submission to ensure help is the might of those who accomplish.
That is also the weapon of the wise to still the foes.
986.The touch-stone to know the sagely virtues is to accept
one’s failure in the midst of meaner men.
987.If you don’t do good to the evil –doers
What is the worth of your sagely virtues?
988.Poverty is not a disgrace to anyone,
If one is endowed with the strength of perfect virtues.
989.Those who are oceans of sagely virtues will never swerve.
Even Time cannot time their change.
990.If the paragon of virtues degenerates
This vast earth will bewail with unbearable burden.