Knowing One's Duty to Society
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ūruṇi nīrniṟain taṟṟē yulakavām / pēraṟi vāḷaṉ tiru
The wealth of a deeply wise person devoted to the world is like a village reservoir filled with water.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The wealth of men who love the 'fitting way,' the truly wise, / Is as when water fills the lake that village needs supplies.”
“Behold the village tank filled with water to its brim: like unto it is the prosperity of the wise man that loveth the world.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உலகு அவாம் பேரறிவாளன் திரு= உலகநடையை விரும்பிச் செய்யும் பேரறிவினையுடையவனது செல்வம்;; ஊருணி நீர் நிறைந்தற்று= ஊரின் வாழ்வார் தண்ணீர் உண்ணுங்குளம் நீர் நிறைந்தாற் போலும் என்றவாறு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Wealth held by one who wisely practises public duty resembles the full common reservoir from which the whole settlement can draw water.