272. Humility makes things possible

நிமிர்ந்த விரலால் குழலூதா நிற்கும்குனிந்த விரலே இசை

nimirnda viralaal kuzhaloodhaa nirkumkuninda virale isai

A finger held straight does not play the flute; the bent finger is itself the music.

273. Keeping self-respect

தன்மதிப்புக் கொண்டு பணிவார் இருகரையும்கொண்ட புனலின் நிறை

thanmadhippuk kondu panivaar irukaraiyumkonda punalin nirai

Those who bow yet keep their self-respect are full like a river brimming from bank to bank.

The Tamil word for ‘fullness’ also means ‘self-restraint’: a river full to both banks still keeps within them.