The Worth of a Wife
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pugazhpurinda illilōrk killai igazhvārmuṉ / ēṟupōl pīḍu naḍai
Those who have no partner cherishing the home's good name cannot walk proud and lion-like before those who would belittle them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who have not spouses that in virtue's praise delight, They lion-like can never walk in scorner's sight.”
“Behold the man whose home beareth not an honourable reputation: the proud lion-like walk in the sight of detractors is denied him.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
புகழ் புரிந்த இல் இலோர்க்கு = புகழை விரும்பிய இல்லாளை யில்லாதார்க்கு; இகழ்வார் முன் ஏறுபோல் பீடு நடை இல்லை = (தம்மை) இகழ்ந்துரைக்கும் பகைவர் முன் சிங்கவேறு போல நடக்கும் பெருமித நடை இல்லை. (பெருமிதமுடையானுக்குச் சிங்கவேறு நடையான் உவமமாகலின் 'ஏறுபோல்' என்றார்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The old simile says a man without a wife who cherishes the household's good name cannot walk with lion-like dignity before hostile mockers. Its historical dependence on the wife's reputation work should not become a modern demand that a partner protect another adult's honour at personal cost.