The Dread of Begging
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irappa ṉirappārai yellā mirappiṟ / karappā riravaṉmi ṉeṉṟu.
I ask this of all who ask: if you must ask, do not ask those who hide what they have.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“One thing I beg of beggars all, 'If beg ye may, / Of those who hide their wealth, beg not, I pray.'”
“Of all that beg I shall beg but this one thing: If ye needs must beg, beg not of those that shirk.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இரப்பாரை எல்லாம் இரப்பன்= இரப்பாரை எல்லாம் யான் இரவாநின்றேன்; இரப்பின் கரப்பார் இரவன்மின் என்று= யாது சொல்லி எனின், நுமக்கு இரக்கவேண்டுமாயின் தமக்கு உள்ளது கரப்பாரை இரவாது ஒழிமின் என்று சொல்லி.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Of all who ask, I ask this one thing: if you must ask, do not ask those who conceal what they have. (That what is concealed is their own is Parimelazhagar's addition.)