798. Duty gives direction

ஆற்றின் கரையின்றேல் நீர்வழியும் கட்டின்றிஆற்றும் கடனே கரை

aatrin karaiyindrel neervazhiyum kattindriaatrum kadane karai

A river with no bank spills its water away unchecked; the duty one carries out is the bank.

799. The one who stays

மாறும் பலதோள் மறையும் கடனொடுமாறா ஒருதோள் மலை

maarum paladhol maraiyum kadanodumaaraa orudhol malai

Many shoulders change, and vanish along with the duty; the one shoulder that does not change is a mountain.

A shoulder is whoever takes up a burden; many arrive with a task and are gone with it. Kadan means both duty and debt.

800. Duty becomes life

வலிந்து செயுங்கால் வலித்ததெனத் தோன்றும்பழகிச் செயுங்கா லுயிர்

valindu seyungaal valithadhenadh thondrumpazhakis seyungaa luyir

Forced, a deed looks forced; practised, it is life.

In Tamil, vali means both to force and to ache; uyir, life, also means breath and soul.