Hospitality
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uḍaimaiyuḷ iṉmai virundu ōmbal ōmbā / maḍamai maḍavārkaṇ uṇḍu
The verse calls wealth that is never used for hospitality a form of poverty amid possession. It criticises wasted ethical opportunity, not people living in material poverty.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To turn from guests is penury, though worldly goods abound; 'Tis senseless folly, only with the senseless found.”
“Not to honour the pilgrim is veritable indigence in the midst of wealth: such a thing is found only with fools.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உடைமையுள் இன்மை விருந்தோம்பல் ஓம்பா மடமை = உடைமைக்காலத்து இன்மையாவது விருந்தோம்பலை இகழும் பேதைமை; மடவார்கண் உண்டு = அஃது அறிந்தார்மாட்டு உளதாகாது, பேதையர்மாட்டே உளதாம். (பேதைமையான் விருந்தோம்பலை இகழிற் பொருள் நின்றவழியும் அதனாற் பயனில்லை என்பதாம்.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
To possess wealth and yet, out of folly, scorn the welcoming of guests is to be truly poor in the very midst of plenty. This kind of poverty-in-riches is found not among the wise but only among the foolish.