Learning
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tāmiṉ puṟuva tulakiṉ puṟakkaṇṭu / kāmuṟuvar kaṟṟaṟin tār
Seeing the world delight in what gives them delight, the learned grow more desirous of learning.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Their joy is joy of all the world, they see; thus more / The learners learn to love their cherished lore.”
“The learned man seeth that the learning that delighteth him delighteth also all that listen to him: and he loveth instruction all the more on that account.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தாம் இன்புறுவது உலகு இன்புறக் கண்டு= தாம் இன்புறுவதற்கு ஏதுவாகிய கல்விக்கு உலகம் இன்புறுதலால் அச்சிறப்பு நோக்கி; கற்றறிந்தார் காமுறுவர்= கற்றறிந்தார் பின்னும் அதனையே விரும்புவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentator says learned people delight in knowledge, see others benefit from that same delight, and therefore desire still more learning. The motive is expanding shared benefit, not applause, missionary certainty, surveillance of audiences, or a teacher's entitlement to attention.