The Great People [from 'naaladiyaar' In Tamil] Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

151. The light showering moon from the vast sky
and the great people are alike. The moon
will bear the #blot on its surface.But the great
won't endure a small stain and so grieve and die.

152. To get or not, the great people think of
doing blameless things. Is the arrow shot at
but failed to hit a lion more contemptible
than the one that split the chest of a fox?

153. The great people going lean and nerveless
and living in want, don't cross the limits
to tread in evil ways. They bind the desires
with a stern mind and do good deeds.

154. O, Chief of the high hilly tracts! The great men
see one but once on the way, yet show great love.
But a few days walk on feet in a foot-path needs
to lay a smooth walk-way on the rocks.

155. What the people of meagre learning prattle,
the Wise with pity listen to their words.
They pay heed to their idle talk, or else
the ignoramus will suffer public shame.

156. You bite the sugar-cane, crush its nodes, grind,
Pound in a mortar and squeeze the juice, it doesn't
lose its sweetness. You hurt the heart of high-born,
they will not utter harsh, wrathful words.

157. The high-born with fully-fledged wisdom won't steal.
They aren't boozing; avert evil things,
and keep away from them; don't scoff at others.
They don't tell lies and worry not any loss.

158. If you are deaf to the secrets of others,
blind while looking at the wives of neighbours
and dumb to backbite about others,
you're well versed in morals and need no preachers.

159. Frequent visits to the low-born make them think
the visitor expects something from them.
And so mock the visitor. But the high-born
please at visits, help them and honour them.

160. Joining the high-born likens the gold-mine
which exhausts not when you take gold several times.
But some mistake the indigent low-born
as rich and seek their help for no use.