The Worth of a Wife
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illatu eṉ illavaḷ māṇbu āṉāl uḷḷatu eṉ / illavaḷ māṇāk kaḍai
Where the partner of a home is truly worthy, the home lacks nothing; where that worth is missing, no amount of riches makes the home rich.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“There is no lack within the house, where wife in worth excels, There is no luck within the house, where wife dishonoured dwells.”
“Where is indigence if the wife is worthy? and where is riches if worth is not in her?”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இல்லவள் மாண்பு ஆனால் இல்லது என் = (ஒருவனுக்கு) இல்லாள், நற்குண நற்செய்கையள் ஆயினக்கால் இல்லாதது யாது? இல்லவள் மாணாக் கடை உள்ளது என் = அவள் அன்னளல்லாக்கால் உள்ளது யாது? ('மாண்பு' எனக் குணத்தின்பெயர், குணிமேல் நின்றது.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If the wife possesses worthy household character and conduct, what essential good is lacking? If she lacks that excellence, what do possessions truly amount to? The paired questions rank character above wealth.