Folly
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
poypaṭu moṉṟō puṉaipūṇuṅ kaiyaṟiyāp / pētai viṉaimēṟ koḷiṉ.
If one who does not know the method undertakes a task, will the work merely fail? The doer also becomes bound in trouble.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“When fool some task attempts with uninstructed pains, / It fails; nor that alone, himself he binds with chains.”
“Behold the fool that taketh in his hand an enterprise of moment: he will not merely spoil it, he will qualify also for fetters.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கையறியாப் பேதை வினைமேற்கொளின்= செய்யும் முறைமை அறியாத பேதை ஒரு கருமத்தை மேற்கொள்வனாயின்; பொய்படும் ஒன்றோ புனை பூணும்= அதுவும் புரைபடும், தானும் தளை பூணும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that when a person ignorant of the method undertakes a task, the work becomes defective, and that is not all: the doer also puts on a fetter and becomes bound. The warning does not condemn novices; it concerns taking responsibility without learning the method or seeking the guidance needed.