The Possession of Decorum
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maṟappiṉum ōttuk koḷalākum pārppāṉ / piṟappoḻukkam kuṉṟak keṭum
A learned man who forgets his sacred texts can learn them again, but once he falls from right conduct his very standing is lost.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though he forget, the Brahman may regain his Vedic lore; / Failing in 'decorum due,' birthright's gone for evermore.”
“Even the Vedas if forgotten can be learned again: but once fallen from virtuous conduct the Brahman is fallen from his place for ever.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஓத்து மறப்பினும் கொளல் ஆகும் = கற்ற வேதத்தினை மறந்தான் ஆயினும் அவ்வருணம் கெடாமையில் பின்னும் அஃது ஓதிக் கொளலாம்; பார்ப்பான் பிறப்பு ஒழுக்கம் குன்றக் கெடும் = அந்தணனது உயர்ந்த வருணம் தன் ஒழுக்கம் குன்றக் கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Valluvar's example is the learned Brahmin: even if he forgets the Vedas he studied, he can learn them again — but if his conduct falls, his very standing is lost. The lesson is universal: knowledge and credentials can be recovered; a lost character cannot so easily be.