Tirukkural-On Virtue-On Self Restraint-Kural 124

Add as a preferred source on Google

Nilaiyil thiriyaadhu adankiyaan thoattram
Malaiyinum maanap peridhu

The grandeur of a consistently virtuous man who exercises self-control,Is great than that of the mighty mountains.

It is impossible to measure the greatness of a truly humble man with self-restraint who does not deviate from the path of rectitude. The word 'Nilai' here refers to the state of a good householder, who practices all the domestic virtues effectively and has reached the status of a 'Sanron'.

The following Biblical lines would be of great relevance in this context.

'blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.'
(Sermon on the Mount-Matt. 5:5)

'Whoever humbles himself like this child;
he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven'.

(Matt. 18:4)

The chaos that results when a man loses self-control is beautifully portrayed in the proverbs thus:

'A man without self-control is like a
city broken into and left without walls'.

(Proverbs 25:28)