Thenpulathar theivam virundhokkal thaanenrraangku
Aimbulaththaaru oombal thalai.
To maintain the five duties — to ancestors, to God, to guests, to relatives, and to oneself — is the chief duty.
தென்புலத்தார் (முன்னோர்), தெய்வம், விருந்தினர், சுற்றத்தார், தான் என்ற ஐந்து துறைகளுக்கும் கடமையாற்றுவதே தலையான கடன்.
Five debts define the householder's complete duty: to ancestors (tenpulathar — those in the southern world/afterlife), to God (theivam), to guests (virundhu), to relatives (okkal), and to oneself (thaan). This five-fold framework is Valluvar's complete map of social responsibility.