Salt Water Not Useful
Viveka Chintamani is a Tamil poetical work by an anonymous author. The verses are didactic in nature. The language and style show that the verses are only a few centuries old. Some of the verses are out of date. It has got a few anti-women verses. But most of them are useful. It is the gist of age old Tamil wisdom. The beauty of Tamil language and style cannot be reflected in the English translation.
Useless 7
Son who does not help his father in difficult times, food inaccessible when one is hungry, water that does not quench one’s thirst, wife who is not prudent in spending, ruler who could not control his anger, student who doesn’t listen to his teacher and the holy waters that doesn’t washes one’s sins are the Useless seven.
Food at inaccessible place!
Hopeless 8
Following eight won’t help when you are in trouble: step brother (who is not born to the same mother),step mother, wealth invested with another person, greediness, visiting brothels, book knowledge and living with another man’s wife— these eight are hopeless things.
Useless Body Parts
The Feet that never step into a temple, the Head that never bows to God, the Hands that never help others, the Ears that never hears good words, the eyes that never care for the tears of parents or guardians—these body parts are useless. What is the use of keeping them? They deserve burning.
Step motherly treatment!
Don’t Trust the following
Uneducated people, short tempered leaders, ministers who do not give timely advice, Gods/angels that don’t help, Brahmins who are not well versed in the scriptures, pretending wives—never trust these people.
Rough translation from Tamil by London Swaminathan; contact swami_48@yahoo.com
Image of Angry King
Tamil and Vedas 
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