Learning
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uṭaiyārmuṉ ṉillārpō lēkkaṟṟuṅ kaṟṟār / kaṭaiyarē kallā tavar
The learned once stood yearning before teachers as people without wealth stood before the wealthy; those who did not learn are called low in the verse's ancient hierarchy.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“With soul submiss they stand, as paupers front a rich man's face; / Yet learned men are first; th'unlearned stand in lowest place.”
“Though thou hast to humble thyself before the teacher even as a beggar before a man of wealth thou yet acquirest learning: it is those that refuse to learn that are the lowest among men.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உடையார் முன் இல்லார்போல் ஏக்கற்றும் கற்றார்= "பிற்றைநிலைமுனியாது கற்றல் நன்று"2 ஆதலான், செல்வர்முன் நல்கூர்ந்தார் நிற்குமாறு போலத் தாமும் ஆசிரியர்முன் ஏக்கற்று நின்றும் கற்றார் தலையாயினார்; கல்லாதவர் கடையரே= அந்நிலைக்கு நாணிக் கல்லாதவர் எஞ்ஞான்றும் இழிந்தாரேயாவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentary praises learners who endured humble, eager attendance before a teacher, using an ancient contrast between the wealthy and the poor and calling non-learners low. Its transferable insight is teachability, not class rank, caste, credential superiority, humiliation, or a teacher's right to dominate a student.