Renown
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tōṉṟiṟ pukaḻoṭu tōṉṟuka aḵtilār / tōṉṟaliṟ ṟōṉṟāmai naṉṟu
If one is born as a human being, be born with qualities that give rise to worthy renown; for those without such qualities, the Kural's severe rhetoric says animal birth would be better than human birth.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“If man you walk the stage, appear adorned with glory's grace; / Save glorious you can shine, 'twere better hide your face.”
“If men must needs be born into the world, let them earn glory: as to those who earn it not, it were better for them not to have been born at all.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தோன்றின் புகழொடு தோன்றுக= மக்களாய்ப்பிறக்கின் புகழுக்கு ஏதுவாகிய குணத்தோடு பிறக்க; அஃது இலார் தோன்றலின் தோன்றாமை நன்று= அக்குணம் இல்லாதார் மக்களாய்ப் பிறத்தலின் விலங்காய்ப் பிறத்தல் நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar takes தோன்றின் as being born among human beings and புகழொடு as possessing qualities that cause worthy praise. He then preserves the verse's harsh comparison: for those without such qualities, animal birth is said to be better than human birth.