Avoiding Faults
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ceyaṟpāla ceyyā tivaṟiyāṉ celva / muyaṟpāla taṉṟik keṭum
The wealth of one who clings to it and leaves undone the things that ought to be done will perish without remaining capable of survival.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who leaves undone what should be done, with niggard mind, / His wealth shall perish, leaving not a wrack behind.”
“Behold the miser that spendeth not where he ought to spend: his wealth will come to an inglorious wreck.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
செயற்பால செய்யாது இவறியான் செல்வம்= பொருளால் தனக்குச் செய்துகொள்ளப்படுமவற்றைச் செய்துகொள்ளாது அதன்கட் பற்றுள்ளஞ் செய்தானது செல்வம்; உயற்பாலதன்றிக் கெடும்= பின் உளதாம் பான்மைத்தன்றி வறிதே கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar describes a person who, through avaricious attachment, fails to carry out the things that wealth should accomplish. That wealth then disappears uselessly instead of retaining the capacity to endure. The claim is not against prudent saving or refusing exploitation; it concerns resources withheld from their proper, due purposes until both purpose and wealth are lost.