Folly
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ōti yuṇarntum piṟarkkuraittun tāṉaṭaṅkāp / pētaiyiṟ pētaiyā ril.
None is more foolish than one who studies and understands restraint, explains it to others, yet does not practise it personally.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The sacred law he reads and learns, to other men expounds,- / Himself obeys not; where can greater fool be found?”
“There is a man that is learned and subtle and a teacher of others, and yet continueth to be the slave of his passions himself: there is no greater fool than he.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஓதி= மனமொழி மெய்கள் அடங்குவதற்கு ஏதுவாய நூல்களை ஓதியும்; உணர்ந்தும்= அவ்வடக்கத்தான் வரும் பயனை உணர்ந்தும்; பிறர்க்கு உரைத்தும்= அதனை அறியலுறப் பிறர்க்கு உரைத்தும்; தான் அடங்காப் பேதையின்= தான் அவையடங்கி ஒழுகாத பேதை போல; பேதையார் இல்= பேதையார் உலகத்தில்லை
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar describes a person who studies works that guide restraint of mind, speech, and body; understands the benefit of that restraint; and teaches it so others may know. If that person still does not live with such restraint, no greater folly is found.