Nobility of Character
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vaḻaṅkuva tuḷvīḻntak kaṇṇum paḻaṅkuṭi / paṇpiṟ ṟalaippirita liṉṟu.
Even where what they give has fallen away inside, an old line does not part from its own quality.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though stores for charity should fail within, the ancient race / Will never lose its old ancestral grace.”
“Behold the men of ancient family: they give not up their liberality even when their means of munificence are diminished.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பழங்குடி= தொன்றுதொட்டு வருகின்ற குடியின்கண் பிறந்தார்; வழங்குவது உள்வீழ்ந்தக் கண்ணும்= தாம் கொடுக்கும் பொருள் பண்டையிற் சுருங்கிய இடத்தும்; பண்பின் தலைப்பிரிதல் இன்று= தம் பண்புடைமையின் நீங்கார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even where what they give has fallen away inside, an old line does not part from its own quality.