Not Stealing
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kaḷaveṉṉuṅ kāraṟi vāṇmai yaḷaveṉṉu / māṟṟal purintārka ṇil
The dark intelligence called theft is absent in those who seek the strength called measured discernment.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Practice of fraud's dark cunning arts they shun, / Who long for power by 'measured wisdom' won.”
“Behold the man that hath weighed the things of this world and made his heart firm: he committeth not the folly of cheating his neighbour.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
களவு என்னும் காரறிவாண்மை= களவென்று சொல்லப்படுகின்ற இருண்ட அறிவினை உடையராதல்; அளவு என்னும் ஆற்றல் புரிந்தார்கண் இல்= உயிர் முதலியவற்றை அளத்தல் என்னும் பெருமையை விரும்பினார்கண் இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The darkened intelligence used for theft does not exist in those who desire the greatness of the philosophical discernment described in the preceding verse.