Lack of Learning
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
nallārkaṭ paṭṭa vaṟumaiyi ṉiṉṉātē / kallārkaṭ paṭṭa tiru
The wealth held by the unlearned is more grievous, the verse says, than poverty resting with the learned.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To men unlearned, from fortune's favour greater-evil springs / Than poverty to men of goodly wisdom brings.”
“Bitter verily is the poverty of the man of learning: but far worse is riches in the hands of the fool.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நல்லார்கண் பட்ட வறுமையின் இன்னாதே= கற்றார்மாட்டு நின்ற வறுமையினும் இன்னாது; கல்லார்கண் பட்ட திரு= கல்லாதார்மாட்டு நின்ற செல்வம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar states the comparison directly: wealth with the unlearned is more painful than poverty with the learned. This praises learning's stewardship value but does not make poverty safe, virtuous, deserved, or unnecessary to remedy.