Courtesy and Consideration
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paṇpilāṉ peṟṟa peruñcelva naṉpāṟ / kalantīmai yāṟṟirin taṟṟu.
Great wealth obtained by one who lacks the quality is like good milk that has turned, through a fault in the vessel it was received into.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Like sweet milk soured because in filthy vessel poured, / Is ample wealth in churlish man's unopened coffers stored.”
“Behold the wealth in the hands of the churlish man: it is even as the milk that is spoiled for being kept in an unclean vessel.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பண்பு இலான் பெற்ற பெரும் செல்வம்= பண்புஇல்லாதவன் முன்னை நல்வினையான் எய்திய பெருஞ்செல்வம், அக்குற்றத்தால் ஒருவற்கும் பயன்படாது கெடுதல்; நன்பால் கலம் தீமையால் திரிந்தற்று= நல்ல ஆன் பால், ஏற்ற கலத்தின் குற்றத்தால் இன் சுவைத்தது ஆகாது கெட்டாற்போலும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Great wealth obtained by one who lacks the quality is like good milk that has turned, through a fault in the vessel it was received into.