Realising the Truth
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
piṟappeṉṉum pētaimai nīṅkac ciṟappeṉṉum / cemporuḷ kāṇpa taṟivu
Wisdom is seeing the pure and excellent reality called liberation, so that the ignorance which causes rebirth may depart.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“When folly, cause of births, departs; and soul can view / The truth of things, man's dignity- 'tis wisdom true.”
“It is the part of Wisdom to desire to escape the folly called birth, and to aim at realising the Supreme and the Good.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பிறப்பு என்னும் பேதைமை நீங்க= பிறப்பிற்கு முதற்காரணமாய அவிச்சைகெட; சிறப்பு என்னும் செம்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு= வீட்டிற்கு நிமித்தகாரணமாய செவ்விய பொருளைக் காண்பதே ஒருவர்க்கு மெய்யுணர்வாவது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar calls avidyā the first cause of rebirth and says true realization is seeing the pure reality that brings liberation. His word pētaimai names doctrinal ignorance here; it must not be used as an insult for intellectual disability, developmental difference, limited schooling, or honest uncertainty.