Avoiding Forgetfulness
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poccāppārk killai pukaḻmai yatuvulakat / teppā ṉūlōrkkun tuṇivu.
Those who live in habitual forgetful negligence gain no lasting renown; this is the settled conclusion of learned people of every kind throughout the world.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'To self-oblivious men no praise'; this rule / Decisive wisdom sums of every school.”
“Glory is not for the unwatchful: that is the conclusion of every school of thinkers in the world.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொச்சாப்பார்க்குப் புகழ்மை இல்லை= பொச்சாந்து ஒழுகுவார்க்குப் புகழுடைமை இல்லை; அது உலகத்து எப்பால் நூலோர்க்கும் துணிவு= அவ்வின்மை இந்நீதிநூல் உடையார்க்கேயன்றி உலகத்து எவ்வகைப்பட்ட நூலுடையார்க்கும் ஒப்பமுடிந்தது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that people who habitually conduct themselves through forgetfulness do not possess renown. He treats this conclusion as shared not only by authorities of this ethical text, but by learned people of every kind throughout the world.