Bereft Of Anger [from 'naaladiyaar' In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

61. When a small fly steps on and sits on your head
don't mind those who boot not you and pass in awe.
Some dare kick and pass you with no respect.
Those who know these common truths, don't get angry.

62. When miseries hit them in succession
The strong in mind bear them and carry out
the acts aimed to do. On facing obstacles,
they brave them and don't lose their precious life.

63. Words of contempt without restraint
are sure to harm him who said at any time.
The wise who have the wisdom of books
don't say raging swear-words or expletives.

64. When people unequal hurl insulting words
The great men don't heed them or be angry.
But the low-born on hearing those words
get spoilt in mind, and hit against the pillars.

65. The youth's control of senses is the restraint.
The charity is what the poor man gives.
If one who is powerful to punish
restrains oneself from the ire, it is patience.

66. As the annoyed snake shrinks its hood in the spell
of sprinkled sacred ash, the ascetics
bear with the words of insults of the vile.
The noble descent of their birth restrains them.

67. If you keep calm when your foes do acts of
enmity ‘gainst you, the wise don't construe it
an inability of yours. If the foes
do violent acts, don't do the same ‘gainst them.

68. The ire of the low-born swells more and more
as the time extends. But the ire of the wise
cools itself as the boiled water
loses the heat slowly.

69. Forgetting the help rendered if someone does
evil deeds enormous, the noble born
with sky-reaching fame, think not of
doing harm to him but think of doing good.

70. When an enraged dog bites, no one
bites it back in this world.
When the lowly men hurl abuses,
the high-born don't retort with words of abuse.