Being led by Women

Who give their soul to love of wife acquire not nobler gain;
Who give their soul to strenuous deeds such meaner joys disdain

Explanation
Those who lust after their wives will not attain the excellence of virtue; and it is just this that is not desired by those who are bent on acquiring wealth.

Tamil Transliteration
Manaivizhaivaar Maanpayan Eydhaar Vinaivizhaiyaar
Ventaap Porulum Adhu.

Who gives himself to love of wife, careless of noble name
His wealth will clothe him with o'erwhelming shame

Explanation
The wealth of him who, regardless (of his manliness), devotes himself to his wife's feminine nature will cause great shame (to ali men) and to himself;.

Tamil Transliteration
Penaadhu Penvizhaivaan Aakkam Periyadhor
Naanaaka Naanuth Tharum.

Who to his wife submits, his strange, unmanly mood
Will daily bring him shame among the good

Explanation
The frailty that stoops to a wife will always make (her husband) feel ashamed among the good.

Tamil Transliteration
Illaalkan Thaazhndha Iyalpinmai Egngnaandrum
Nallaarul Naanuth Tharum.

No glory crowns e'en manly actions wrought
By him who dreads his wife, nor gives the other world a thought

Explanation
The undertaking of one, who fears his wife and is therefore destitute of (bliss), will never be applauded.

Tamil Transliteration
Manaiyaalai Anjum Marumaiyi Laalan
Vinaiyaanmai Veereydha Lindru.

Who quakes before his wife will ever tremble too,
Good deeds to men of good deserts to do

Explanation
He that fears his wife will always be afraid of doing good deeds (even) to the good.

Tamil Transliteration
Illaalai Anjuvaan Anjumar Regngnaandrum
Nallaarkku Nalla Seyal.

Though, like the demi-gods, in bliss they dwell secure from harm,
Those have no dignity who fear the housewife's slender arm

Explanation
They that fear the bamboo-like shoulders of their wives will be destitute of manliness though they may flourish like the Gods.

Tamil Transliteration
Imaiyaarin Vaazhinum Paatilare Illaal
Amaiyaardhol Anju Pavar.

The dignity of modest womanhood excels
His manliness, obedient to a woman's law who dwells

Explanation
Even shame faced womanhood is more to be esteemed than the shameless manhood that performs.

Tamil Transliteration
Penneval Seydhozhukum Aanmaiyin Naanutaip
Penne Perumai Utaiththu.

Who to the will of her with beauteous brow their lives conform,
Aid not their friends in need, nor acts of charity perform

Explanation
Those who yield to the wishes of their wives will neither relieve the wants of (their) friends nor perform virtuous deeds.

Tamil Transliteration
Nattaar Kuraimutiyaar Nandraatraar Nannudhalaal
Pettaangu Ozhuku Pavar.

No virtuous deed, no seemly wealth, no pleasure, rests
With them who live obedient to their wives' behests

Explanation
From those who obey the commands of their wives are to be expected neither deeds of virtue, nor those of wealth nor (even) those of pleasure.

Tamil Transliteration
Aravinaiyum Aandra Porulum Piravinaiyum
Peneval Seyvaarkan Il.

Where pleasures of the mind, that dwell in realms of thought, abound,
Folly, that springs from overweening woman's love, is never found

Explanation
The foolishness that results from devotion to a wife will never be found in those who possess a reflecting mind and a prosperity (flowing) therefrom.

Tamil Transliteration
Enserndha Nenjath Thitanutaiyaarkku Egngnaandrum
Penserndhaam Pedhaimai Il.