Men think this saint has conquered the flesh and will not stoop to
offences of the flesh and thereby he gets opportunities for secret crime. If a man hides
himself in the externals of a saint and under that cover commits sin, he descends to the
life of the mean bird-catcher that hides in the bush to trap innocent birds.
Making public pretensions to purity of life, if you secretly act
contrary to the law, soon you will be landed in numberless troubles and you will lament in
exceeding measure. Consider well whether it is worth while, says Tiru-Valluvar in his
characteristic way.
