Tirukural

CHAPTER 91

Being Led by Women

901

Men who dote upon their wives never achieve great gains, and men of great ambition avoid that very thing.§

902

The riches of a man who fawningly follows a woman’s lead will buy him only shameful shame.§

903

An abnormal submissiveness to his spouse will earn a man endless disgrace among decent men.§

904

Though he has mastered the doing of deeds, the henpecked husband merits little in this life or the next.§

905

A man’s fears of his own wife will make him constantly fearful of doing good for good folks.§

906

Though providence has filled his life, a man who fears his graceful spouse is devoid of dignity.§

907

A woman’s shy ways show great dignity, unlike a man who lives to do a woman’s bidding.§

908

Those who live only to fulfill their wive’s wishes can neither satisfy the needs of friends nor benefit others.§

909

Neither virtuous deeds nor vast wealth nor domestic joys will be found with men who carry out their wife’s commands.§

910

Moneyed men whose thoughts dwell in the mind never dwell foolishly on relationships with women.§