Knowing Strength
கெடும்.
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aḷavaṟintu vāḻātāṉ vāḻkkai yuḷapōla / villākit tōṉṟāk keṭum.
The life of one who does not live according to known means appears to exist, then becomes nothing and vanishes without even that appearance.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who prosperous lives and of enjoyment knows no bound, / His seeming wealth, departing, nowhere shall be found.”
“Behold the man that taketh not account of his measure nor liveth within the bounds thereof: he may look like prospering, but he will perish leaving no trace behind.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அளவு அறிந்து வாழாதான் வாழ்க்கை= தனக்கு உள்ள பொருளின் எல்லையை அறிந்து அதற்கு ஏற்ப வாழமாட்டாதான் வாழ்க்கைகள்; உளபோல இல்லாகித் தோன்றாக் கெடும்= உள்ளனபோலத் தோன்றி, மெய்ம்மையான் இல்லையாய்ப் பின்பு அத்தோற்றமும் இன்றிக் கெட்டுவிடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar distinguishes visible display from durable reality: living beyond known means first produces a seeming prosperity, then removes both the substance and its appearance.