Shallow Understanding
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ēvavuñ ceykalāṉ ṟāṉṟēṟā ṉavvuyir / pōo maḷavumōr nōy.
He neither acts even when soundly instructed nor discerns for himself; until that life departs, the verse harshly calls it one continuing affliction.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Advised, he heeds not; of himself knows nothing wise; / This man's whole life is all one plague until he dies.”
“Behold the man who neither listeneth to advice nor knoweth for himself what is right: all the days of his life he is a plague to his fellows.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஏவவும் செய்கலான்= புல்லறிவாளன் தனக்கு உறுதியாயவற்றை அறிவுடையார் சொல்லாநிற்கவும் செய்யான்; தான் தேறான்= அதுவன்றித் தானாகவும் இவை செய்வன என்று அறியான்; அவ்வுயிர் போஒம்அளவும் ஓர்நோய்= அவ்வுயிர் யாக்கையின் நீங்கும் அளவும் நிலத்திற்குப் பொறுத்தற்குஅரியதொரு நோயாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains the verse’s severe metaphor: one who neither follows beneficial guidance from the knowledgeable nor independently discerns what should be done is called an affliction hard for the earth to bear until that life leaves the body.