Folly
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nāṇāmai nāṭāmai nāriṉmai yātoṉṟum / pēṇāmai pētai toḻil.
Folly’s pattern is to feel no shame where shame is due, seek none of what should be sought, break human bonds through word and deed, and care for nothing worthy of care.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Ashamed of nothing, searching nothing out, of loveless heart, / Nought cherishing, 'tis thus the fool will play his part.”
“The fool is neglectful of duties and rude of speech, and callous to all sense of shame: and he will cherish nothing that is good.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நாணாமை= நாணவேண்டும் அவற்றுக்கு நாணாமையும்; நாடாமை= நாடவேண்டுமவற்றை நாடாமையும்; நார் இன்மை= யாவர்மாட்டும் முறிந்தசொல், செயல்உடைமையும்; யாதொன்றும் பேணாமை= பேணவேண்டுமவற்றுள் யாதொன்றனையும் பேணாமையும்; பேதை தொழில்= பேதையது தொழில்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar identifies four connected marks of this conduct: lacking shame about what rightly calls for shame, failing to seek what ought to be sought, using words and actions that sever human fellow-feeling, and caring for none of the things that deserve care.