Folly
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maiya loruvaṉ kaḷittaṟṟāṟ pētaitaṉ / kaiyoṉ ṟuṭaimai peṟiṉ.
If a person already ruled by confused judgment gains even one possession or power, the confusion grows like intoxication added to an existing delirium.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“When folly's hand grasps wealth's increase, 'twill be / As when a mad man raves in drunken glee.”
“If the fool obtaineth anything of value he will behave like a madman who is also grown tipsy.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பேதை தன் கைஒன்று உடைமை பெறின்= பேதையாயினான், தன் கைக்கண்ணே ஒன்றனை உடைமையாகப் பெற்றானாயின்; மையல் ஒருவன் களித்தற்று= அவன் மயங்குதல், முன்னே பித்தினையுடையான் ஒருவன் அம்மயக்கத்தின் மேலே மதுவுண்டு மயங்கினாற் போலும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that when a person already governed by confused judgment gains a possession, the confusion is intensified, like intoxication added to a pre-existing delirium. That mental-health image belongs to the historical idiom. A responsible modern reading does not stigmatize any person or condition; it focuses on how money, authority, reach, or tools can amplify unchecked judgment.