Abstention from Sloth
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maṭiyai maṭiyā oḻukal kuṭiyaik / kuṭiyāka vēṇṭupavar.
Those who want their house to remain a worthy house must recognise sloth for what it is and live with deliberate effort.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Let indolence, the death of effort, die, / If you'd uphold your household's dignity.”
“Let them call sloth by its real name and avoid it, those who desire to establish their family on a solid foundation.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குடியைக் குடியாக வேண்டுபவர்= தாம் பிறந்த குடியை மேன்மேலும் நற்குடியாக வேண்டுவார்; மடியை மடியா ஒழுகல்= மடியை மடியாகவே கருதி முயற்சியோடு ஒழுகுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar first identifies people who want the house into which they were born to grow in worth. Their required conduct is to see sloth precisely as sloth and then live with sustained effort.