Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,169

Date uploaded in London – 6 September 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

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Points to be noted:

A simple message- Don’t feel angry; it will harm you.

But it can be told in different ways is shown here.

Very important Kural is 306. In the forest, wildfires are caused when two trees rub against one another; the tree which creates the fire is also destroyed. Kambaramayana Uttarakandam explains it with two bamboo trees. When such a bamboo creates fire by friction, it destroys the entire forest. This beautiful simile is taken from a Sanskrit phrase; Valluvar has taken it from Manu Smriti!

Asrayasah (आश्रयाश) is a Sanskrit word primarily used as a title or synonym for Agni (the god of fire), literally translating to “the one who devours or consumes his own shelter/refuge.சேர்ந்தாரைக் கொல்லி

1) Āśrayāśa (आश्रयाश):—சேர்ந்தாரைக் கொல்லி [from ā-śraya > ā-śri] m. ‘consuming everything with which it comes in contact’, fire, [Hitopadeśa; Manu-smṛti etc.]

Another comparison is mother devouring her own baby; that is, the bamboo mother creates baby=fire which destroys even the kith and kin, that is other trees in the forest.

But one may wonder why Valluvar suddenly introduced a boat or raft in the same couplet. Only Parimel Azakar, the Kanchipuram Vishnu Temple priest and the most famous Tirukkural commentator, explained it. He says, Look, this chapter comes under asceticism section. So, Valluvar meant only ascetics in the Kural. That is an ascetic who crosses the ocean of birth and death by the boat is also affected.

In the tenth couplet in the first chapter Valluvar said CROSSING THE OCEAN OF BIRTH AND DEATH BY SWIMMING. Here he says CROSSING THE OCEAN OF BIRTH AND DEATH BY BOAT OR RAFT OR CANOE.

Where did he get this idea? He translated it from Bhagavad Gita!

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः ।

सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥ ३६ ॥

: “Even if you are considered the most sinful of all sinners, you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries (and sins) entirely by taking shelter of the boat of transcendental knowledge.”

The idea of crossing by a boat is taken from Bhagavad Gita sloka 4-36.

***

How do sages perform Miracles?

If one controls anger in his life he can perform Ashta Ma Siddhis= Eight Great Supernatural powers; see Kural309.

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Following Translations are used:

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

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

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

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Project Madurai website has all the Tamil books.

Part 49 வெகுளாமை, கோபம், சினம் – Wrath, Abstaining from Anger, Refraining from Anger- Control of Temper- The not being Angry;

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301.Only in him does the true spirit of forbearance dwell who has the power to strike, but withholds; but what avail of the forbearance of the weak? – A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

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301.Only the man who controls his temper, where it can hurt, is in fact controlling it-

Where his anger cannot have sway, such an exercise is futile either way- S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

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301
Where thou hast power thy angry will to work, thy wrath restrain;
Where power is none, what matter if thou check or give it rein?
He restrains his anger who restrains it when it can injure; when it cannot injure, what does it matter whether he restrain it, or not ? -Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

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301.Anger against the weak is wrong
It is futile against the strong -Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB
***

301.The man who controls his anger toward the weak who is helpless against it is the one who controls it truly. What matters it controlled or not towards others- EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986

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301.Who curbs his wrath, when it has power, curbs it indeed;

When power there is none, what matters if he curbs or not?- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

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301. செல்லிடத்துக் காப்பான் சினங்காப்பான் அல்லிடத்துக்
காக்கின்என் காவாக்கால் என்

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302.Impotent fury against a foe mightier than one doeth breed harm unto ourselves. And the wrath turned against the weak is wrought with greater disaster-– ANM+2

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302.Even where it cannot hurt others, anger is bad;

But where is does hurt, there is nothing worse-– SMD

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302
Where power is none to wreak thy wrath, wrath importent is ill;
Where thou hast power thy will to work, ’tis greater, evil still.
Anger is bad, even when it cannot injure; when it can injure; there is no greater evil. – GUP
***
302.Vain is wrath against men of force
Against the meek it is still worse– SB

***

302.Anger towards those stronger than oneself is harmful. There is no harm greater than losing one’s temper towards the weak– EVS

***

302. செல்லா இடத்துச் சினந்தீது செல்லிடத்தும்
இல்அதனின் தீய பிற
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303.Whosoever your offender may be, forget your wrath; for out of it does spring a host of evils-– ANM+2

***

303.As only evil consequences can come out of it,

Anger is bet avoided in respect of all-– SMD

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303
If any rouse thy wrath, the trespass straight forget;
For wrath an endless train of evils will beget.
Forget anger towards every one, as fountains of evil spring from it. – GUP
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303.Off with wrath with any one.
It is the source of sin and pain– SB
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303.Great harm may be caused by anger. Therefore, one should restrain anger towards anybody– EVS

***

303. மறத்தல் வெகுளியை யார்மாட்டும் தீய
பிறத்தல் அதனான் வரும்

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304.Anger slays our smiles and takes away the cheer of our hearts; is there a foe deadlier than wrath?- – ANM+2

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304.Can there be any greater enemy to mankind than anger, which kills laughter and joy? – SMD

***

304
Wrath robs the face of smiles, the heart of joy,
What other foe to man works such annoy?
Is there a greater enemy than anger, which kills both laughter and joy ? – GUP
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304.Is there a foe like harmful ire
Which kills the smile and joyful cheer?   – SB

***

304.Can there be a greater enemy than ager which flares up, destroying one’s peace of mind and cheerfulness? – EVS

***

304.Both smile and joy it kills;

What greater foe than wrath? – HAP

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304. நகையும் உவகையும் கொல்லும் சினத்தின்
பகையும் உளவோ பிற.

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305.If thou decide to guard thyself, guard against blind anger, lest it should destroy thy soul-– ANM+2

***

305.If you would protect yourself, guard against your own anger;

For, anger not controlled, would lead to self-destruction-– SMD

***

305
If thou would’st guard thyself, guard against wrath alway;
‘Gainst wrath who guards not, him his wrath shall sla y.
If a man would guard himself, let him guard against anger; if he do not guard it, anger will kill him. – GUP
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305.Thyself to save, from wrath away!
If not thyself the wrath will slay– SB

***

305.If one wishes to safeguard oneself, one should control anger. If not, it is bound to ruin oneself– EVS

***

305.Curb well your wrath, if you would guard yourself;

For wrath will ruin you, if you will curb it not– HAP

***

305. தன்னைத்தான் காக்கின் சினம்காக்க காவாக்கால்
தன்னையே கொல்லும் சினம்.

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306.Wild wrath is flaming fire that consumes even the blessed hearts who are very canoes of our souls in our voyage to the unknown-– ANM+2

***

306.Anger not only destroys those whom it affects, like fire, but it will also burn

Those kindred souls, who step in to help as a raft towards salvation-– SMD

***

306
Wrath, the fire that slayeth whose draweth near,
Will burn the helpful ‘raft’ of kindred dear.
The fire of anger will burn up even the pleasant raft of friendship. – GUP
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306.Friend-killer is the fatal rage
It burns the helpful kinship-barge– SB

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306.The fire of anger will destroy not only the person under its influence but also his kin who ministers to him in the path of righteousness – EVS

***

306.The fire of wrath, that burns up all that is near,

Will burn up, too, the pleasant bark of friendship rare– HAP

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306. சினமென்னும் சேர்ந்தாரைக் கொல்லி இனமென்னும்
ஏமப் புணையைச் சுடும்.

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307.Pain awaits the hand that strikes against a stony ground. Ruin awaits the soul that seeks its strength in deadly wrath-– ANM+2

***

307.He, who sees substance in anger and gives way to it, will suffer evil consequences,

Even as the fool who slaps the ground-– SMD

***

307
The hand that smites the earth unfailing feels the sting;
So perish they who nurse their wrath as noble thing.
Destruction will come upon him who ragards anger as a good thing, as surely as the hand of him who strikes the ground will not fail. – GUP
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307.The wrath-lover to doom is bound
Like failless-hand that strikes the ground– SB

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307.The ruin of the man who regards anger as a quality of his power is as certain as the destruction one’s hand which smites the ground– EVS

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307. சினத்தைப் பொருளென்று கொண்டவன் கேடு
நிலத்தறைந்தான் கைபிழையா தற்று.

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308.It were well for you if you abstain from wrath even against the loveless being whose injuries are as painful as the thousand tonged flame of fire-– ANM+2

***

308.Even if the memory of a great wrong burns one up like a holocaust,

It is best to strain oneself to hold back the anger-– SMD

***

308
Though men should work thee woe, like touch of tongues of fire.
‘Tis well if thou canst save thy soul from burning ire.
Though one commit things against you as painful (to bear) as if a bundle of fire had been thrust upon you, it will be well, to refrain, if possible, from anger. – GUP
***
308.Save thy soul from burning ire
Though tortured like the touch of fire– SB

***

308.Even when tormented as if scorched to soaring flames of fire, it is well, if possible, to control anger– EVS

***
308. இணர்எரி தோய்வன்ன இன்னா செயினும்
புணரின் வெகுளாமை நன்று.

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309.All the longings of our soul become fulfilled, if you banish anger from your heart-– ANM+2

***

309.To an ascetic, who does not even think angry thoughts

Every constructive thought will result in instant success-– SMD

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309
If man his soul preserve from wrathful fires,
He gains with that whate’er his soul desires.
If a man never indulges anger in his heart, he will at once obtain whatever he has thought of. – GUP
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309.Wishes he gains as he wishes
If man refrains from rage vicious!     – SB

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309.If a man could check the feeling of anger in his mind, he would get all that he wishes to have—EVS

***
309. உள்ளிய தெல்லாம் உடனெய்தும் உள்ளத்தால்
உள்ளான் வெகுளி எனின்.

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310.Death is the heart which is blinded by wrath; but he that is free from it is one with the immortals-– ANM+2

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310.Those who have yielded to anger and to consequent evils, are like the dead,

While those who have reined in anger, are like the good ascetics-– SMD

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310
Men of surpassing wrath are like the men who’ve passed away;
Who wrath renounce, equals of all-renouncing sages they.
Those, who give way to excessive anger, are no better than dead men; but those, who are freed from it, are equal to those who are freed (from death). – GUP
***

310.Dead are they who are anger-fed
Saints are they from whom wrath has fled– SB

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310.Those who lose their temper are likened to the dead. Those who control their anger are likened to the sages who have overcome death– EVS

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310. இறந்தார் இறந்தார் அனையர் சினத்தைத்
துறந்தார் துறந்தார் துணை.

–subham—

Tags- Bhagavad Gita and Manu Smriti again in Kural! Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 31-Anger Part 49 வெகுளாமை, கோபம், சினம் – Wrath, Abstaining from Anger, Refraining from Anger- Control of Temper- not being Angry;