Possession of Knowledge
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evva tuṟaiva tulaka mulakattō / ṭavva tuṟaiva taṟivu
Wisdom is conducting oneself with the world in the manner by which the world itself lives.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“As dwells the world, so with the world to dwell / In harmony- this is to wisely live and well.”
“It is a part of wisdom to conform to the ways of the world.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உலகம் எவ்வது உறைவது= உலகம் யாதொருவாற்றான் ஒழுகுவதாயிற்று; உலகத்தோடு அவ்வது உறைவது அறிவு= அவ்வுலகத்தோடு மேவித் தானும் அவ்வாற்றான் ஒழுகுவது அரசனுக்கு அறிவு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar reads the verse as a ruler fitting into the way the world conducts itself and living accordingly. It values socially intelligent coordination, not unquestioning conformity to harmful or unjust custom.