Destiny
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
nallavai yellān tīyavān tīyavu / nallavāñ celvañ ceyaṟku
For making wealth, all good things can turn harmful, and harmful things can turn helpful, under destiny's power.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“All things that good appear will oft have ill success; / All evil things prove good for gain of happiness.”
“When the tide is against thee even good things turn to evil: and even evil things turn to good when the tide is on.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செல்வம் செயற்கு= செல்வத்தை ஆக்குதற்கு; நல்லவை எல்லாம் தீயவாம்= நல்லவை எல்லாம் தீயவாய் அழிக்கும்; தீயவும் நல்லவாம்= அதுவே அன்றித் தீயவை தாமும் நல்லவாய் ஆக்கும், ஊழ்வயத்தான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentary says destiny can reverse which circumstances help or hinder the making of wealth. It does not rename exploitation, deception, or violence as morally good; ethical duties remain even when outcomes surprise us.