Seeking the Support of the Wise
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mutalilārk kūtiya millai matalaiyāñ / cārpilārk killai nilai
As those without capital have no return, those without a supporting foundation have no stability.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who owns no principal, can have no gain of usury; / Who lacks support of friends, knows no stability.”
“Profit is not for those that have no capital: even so stability is not for them that repose not on the firm support of the wise.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முதல் இலார்க்கு ஊதியம் இல்லை= முதற்பொருள் இல்லாத வணிகர்க்கு அதனால் வரும் ஊதியம் இல்லையாம்; மதலையாம் சார்பு இலார்க்கு நிலை இல்லை= அதுபோலத் தம்மைத் தாங்குவதாந் துணை இல்லாத அரசர்க்கு அதனான் வரும் நிலையில்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar develops an analogy: profit requires capital, and political stability likewise requires a sustaining base of capable support.