Purity of Action
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
aḻakkoṇṭa vellā maḻappō miḻappiṉum / piṟpayakku naṟpā lavai.
All wealth taken through others' tears will depart amid one's own tears; goods of the good kind may be lost first yet bear fruit later.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“What's gained through tears with tears shall go; / From loss good deeds entail harvests of blessings grow.”
“All that is wrong in the midst of tears will depart also accompanied by weepings: but that which is acquired by righteous ways, even if lost in the middle, increaseth in the latter end.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அழக்கொண்ட எல்லாம் அழப் போம்= ஒருவன் தீவினைகளைச் செய்து பிறர் இரங்கக்கொண்ட பொருள் எல்லாம், இம்மையிலே அவன்தான் இரங்கப் போகாநிற்கும்; நற்பாலவை இழப்பினும் பிற்பயக்கும்= மற்றைத் தூயவினையான் வந்த பொருள்கள் முன் இழந்தான் ஆயினும், அவனுக்குப் பின்னர் வந்து பயன்கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says all goods acquired through deeds that make others grieve will leave while the acquirer grieves; goods from pure action may be lost at first and later return in benefit.