Purity of Action
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calattāṟ poruḷceytē mārttal pacumaṭ / kalattuṇīr peytirīi yaṟṟu.
Trying to create security with wealth amassed through wrongful means is like pouring water into an unfired clay pot and expecting it to remain.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“In pot of clay unburnt he water pours and would retain, / Who seeks by wrong the realm in wealth and safety to maintain.”
“To try to lay by wealth by means of guile is like trying to preserve water in a pot of clay that is not baked.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சலத்தால் பொருள் செய்து ஏமார்த்தல்= அமைச்சன் தீய வினைகளாற் பொருள் படைத்து, அதனால் அரசனுக்கு ஏமஞ்செய்தல்; பசுமட் கலத்துள் நீர் பெய்து இரீஇயற்று= பசிய மட்கலத்துள்ளே நீரைப்பெய்து அதற்கு ஏமம் செய்ததனோடு ஒக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a minister who amasses wealth through evil acts and tries to use it as protection for ruler and realm resembles someone pouring water into an unfired clay vessel to preserve it.