Knowing One's Duty to Society
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payaṉmara muḷḷūrp paḻuttaṟṟāṟ celva / nayaṉuṭai yāṉkaṭ paṭiṉ
When wealth reaches a person of humane discernment, it is like a useful fruit tree ripening in the centre of town.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A tree that fruits in th' hamlet's central mart, / Is wealth that falls to men of liberal heart.”
“Like unto a fruit-tree in the middle of the village bearing fruit is riches in the hands of the man of heart.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செல்வம் நயன்உடையான்கண் படின்= செல்வம் ஒப்புரவு செய்வான்கண்ணே படுமாயின்;; பயன்மரம் உள்ளூர்ப் பழுத்தற்றால்= அது பயன்படு மரம் ஊர்நடுவே பழுத்தாற் போலும், என்றவாறு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Wealth in the hands of one who practises fitting help becomes like a fruit-bearing tree ripening where the whole town can reach it.