The Wealth of Children
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
peṟumavaṟṟuḷ yām aṟivadu illai aṟivu aṟinda / makkaṭpēṟu alla piṟa
Among all gains, the verse says, none is greater than children capable of discerning what should be known. It praises cultivated understanding—not parenthood as a compulsory measure of every life.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Of all that men acquire, we know not any greater gain, Than that which by the birth of learned children men obtain.”
“We know of no blessing so great as the begetting of children that are endowed with understanding.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெறுமவற்றுள் = ஒருவன் பெறும் பேறுகளுள்; அறிவு அறிந்த மக்கள் பேறு அல்ல பிற = அறிய வேண்டுவன அறிதற்கு உரிய மக்களைப் பெறுதலல்லது பிற பேறுகளை; யாம் அறிவதில்லை = யாம் மதிப்பதில்லை. (இதனாற் புதல்வர்ப்பேற்றினது சிறப்புக் கூறப்பட்டது.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Among all the gains a person can win in life, the wise know of none greater than this: to have children who grow up with real understanding. Of every blessing, well-raised, discerning children are the highest.