Not Fearing the Assembly
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pallavai kaṟṟum payamilarē nallavaiyu / ṇaṉku celaccollā tār.
However much they have studied, those who cannot make good ideas reach a good assembly effectively bring no benefit to the world.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though many things they've learned, yet useless are they all, / To man who cannot well and strongly speak in council hall.”
“Behold the men who cannot drive home their point before a learned assembly: even if they possess varied learning they are good for nothing.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நல் அவையுள் நன்கு செலச் சொல்லாதார்- நல்லார் இருந்த அவைக்கண் நல்ல சொற்பொருள்களைத் தம் அச்சத்தான் அவர்க்கு ஏற்கச் சொல்லமாட்டாதார்; பல்லவை கற்றும் பயம் இலரே= பல நூல்களைக் கற்றார் ஆயினும் உலகிற்குப் பயன்படுதல் இலர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that people who cannot, through fear, present worthy ideas so a good assembly can receive them bring no benefit to the world, even if they have studied many works.