Tirukural

CHAPTER 37

Eradication of Desire

361

At all times and to all creatures, the seed of ceaseless births is desire.§

362

If you must desire, desire freedom from birth. That will only come by desiring desirelessness.§

363

Here no fortune is as dear as desirelessness; and even there, nothing like it can be found.§

364

Purity is but freedom from desire, and that comes from thirsting after Truth.§

365

They say only those who have renounced desire are renunciates. Others, though they have renounced all else, are not.§

366

As it is desire, above all else, which deceives a man, ascetics rightfully dread it.§

367

Desisting from all desire-driven deeds, a renouncer finds liberation approaching, just as he desired.§

368

He who has no desires has no sorrow. But where desire exists, endless sorrows ensue.§

369

When desire, sorrow’s sorrow, dies away, undying bliss prevails here on Earth.§

370

It is the nature of desire never to be fulfilled, but he who utterly gives it up is eternally fulfilled at that very moment.§