Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,738

Date uploaded in London –14 May 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

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tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

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Some scholars opined that Tiru Valluvar was a Jain, or a Buddhist; and even Christians tried to say that he was influenced by Jesus Christ; to explode the myth, Maraimalai Adigal and others organised a conference and fixed the date of Tiru Valluvar as 31 BCE. Though Tiru Valluvar belonged to fifth century CE, the Christian enthusiasts were silenced. That conference ended in heated exchanges and walk outs. Kural 50 is the nail in the coffin of those arguments.

Now Valluvar himself explodes the myth of Jain and Buddhist enthusiasts. He was a pukka Hindu and a great Sanskrit scholar. But it is true that he wanted to bring the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists together.

Jains and Buddhists never talked about God. But Tiru Valluvar placed invocation as the first chapter imitating Mr Mahadevan of Sangam literature. Mr Mahadevan ( his Tamil name is Bhaaratham paadiya Perunthevanaar) composed five poems on Lord Siva and placed them in the five Sangam books.

Here in the couplet 50, Valluvar says man becomes God in the Heaven. It proved he was an ardent Hindu. Moreover, he says man becomes God following Adi Sankara’s  Advaita (Aham Brahmasmi. It is in the Upanishads dated 850 BCE).

Buddha and Mahavir are great philosophers. In the early stage, they never talked about God , rituals etc. But when Jainism and Buddhism started disappearing, scholars in those days included a lot from Hinduism. As a result, both the old religions split into many groups.

Hindus only believe Rama, Krishna ,Parasurama, even Buddha (Jayadeva made him ninth Avatar of Vishnu in Gita Govindam) were Gods. They all lived according to Smritis. So Kural 50 has several examples only from Hinduism.

Kural 47 also is against Buddhism and Jainism. In the early stages both Mahavir and Buddha hated Grihastasram (Householder status). They were against women joining the order in the beginning. Only Hindus support Sex, Family Life and House holder state. Valluvar follows Manu and says ‘staying as a Householder’ is the best because he supports Brahmachari, Vannaprastan and Sanyasin (Please Part 9 for this Kural).

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Deivam is used two times in Chapter five, which is a Sanskrit word.

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Part 10

Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933 

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD Year 2000

3.GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS. Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

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Domestic Virtue
Domestic Life

இல்லறவியல் – DOMESTIC VIRTUE
இல்வாழ்க்கை – Married Life

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46.No need for a householder to yearn for other spheres of life, if he keeps the lustre of his soul undimmed amidst the ceaseless toil of his home — ANM+2 and B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan. Year 1933 

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46.Real happiness is achieved by following domestic virtues,

What then is gained by seeking any other path?— S M Diaz, I G of Police- Year 2000

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46.
If man in active household life a virtuous soul retain,
What fruit from other modes of virtue can he gain?
What will he who lives virtuously in the domestic state gain by going into the other, (ascetic) state ?– GU Pope – GUP. Year 1886

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46.Who turns from righteous family
To be a monk, what profits he?    — Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

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46 If one could live virtuously in the house-holder’s state, what could one gainby preferring any other life – EVS

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46.If home -life is lived  always in Virtue’s way, what good is there in leaving house and home? – HAP

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46. அறத்தாற்றின் இல்வாழ்க்கை யாற்றின் புறத்தாற்றிற்
போஒய்ப் பெறுவது எவன்.

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47.Among those who labour for thelife eternal the greatest are  those who lead a virtuous family life– ANM+2

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47.The householder who by right conduct has made a success of life

Is the best of all aspirants of virtue— SMD

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47.
In nature’s way who spends his calm domestic days,
‘Mid all that strive for virtue’s crown hath foremost place.
Among all those who labour (for future happiness) he is greatest who lives well in the household state. – GUP

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47.Of all who strive for bliss, the great
Is he who leads the married state.      – SB  

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47.He who properly lives the life of a house-holder is the greatest among all those who strive for betterment – EVS

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47.He who lives home -life worthily,

Shall first among all strivers be– HAP

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47. இயல்பினான் இல்வாழ்க்கை வாழ்பவன் என்பான்
முயல்வாருள் எல்லாம் தலை

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48.Far holier and more patient than  the recluse is the householder who helps the hermits in the observance of  their duties, and himself swerves not from virtue— ANM+2

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48.A virtuous householder who supports all other orders  in their state,

Has more penance in him, than all the hermits— SMD

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48.
Others it sets upon their way, itself from virtue ne’er declines;
Than stern ascetics’ pains such life domestic brighter shines.
The householder who, not swerving from virtue, helps the ascetic in his way, endures more than those who endure penance. – GUP

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48.Straight in virtue, right in living
Make men brighter than monks praying.        – SB

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48.The – house-holder who swerves not from the path of virtue and helps those who perform penance in their right path deserves more praise than they?—EVS

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48.Home-life that helps the saints and swerves from Virtue ne’er,

Endures more trials then lonely Hermit-life– HAP

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48. ஆற்றின் ஒழுக்கி அறனிழுக்கா இல்வாழ்க்கை
நோற்பாரின் நோன்மை உடைத்து

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49.Virtue rightly belongs to the married life; and other walks of life, if found blameless, due praise may claim– ANM+2

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49.Family life is real virtue; it will be excellent too,

If it gives no room for adverse criticism— SMD

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49.
The life domestic rightly bears true virtue’s name;
That other too, if blameless found, due praise may claim.
The marriage state is truly called virtue. The other state is also good, if others do not reproach it. – GUP

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49.Home-life and virtue, are the same;
Which spotless monkhood too can claim– SB

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49.It is the married state that is truly called a life of virtue. The other state is also good, if it is devoid of reproach from others – EVS

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49.Home-life itself is virtue’s way;

The other two, is good, if men no fault can find– HAP

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49. அறனெனப் பட்டதே இல்வாழ்க்கை அஃதும்
பிறன்பழிப்பது இல்லாயின் நன்று

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50. A God among men he will be looked upon, who fulfils the charities of home– ANM+2

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50.A man who leads an ideal life  in this world,

Will be ranked amongst the Gods in heaven — SMD

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50.
Who shares domestic life, by household virtues graced,
Shall, mid the Gods, in heaven who dwell, be placed.
He who on earth has lived in the conjugal state as he should live, will be placed among the Gods who dwell in heaven. – GUP
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50.He is a man of divine worth
Who lives in ideal home on earth– SB

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50.A man leading his life as he ought to will be regarded as one of the deities in the heaven– EVS

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50.He who lives home-life worthily on earth

Will win a place among gods who dwell in heaven – HAP

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50. வையத்துள் வாழ்வாங்கு வாழ்பவன் வானுறையும்
தெய்வத்துள் வைக்கப் படும்

To be continued…………………………….

Tags-neither Buddhist, nor a Jain, Tiru Valluvar, Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter Five (Kural 46 to 50)