Noble Excellence
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iṉmai yoruvaṟ kiḷivaṉṟu cālpeṉṉun / tiṇmai yuṇṭākap peṟiṉ.
Having nothing is no disgrace to a person, if the solidity called fullness of character is obtained — the commentary reading the first word as poverty and the solidity as strength.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To soul with perfect virtue's strength endued, / Brings no disgrace the lack of every earthly good.”
“Poverty is no disgrace to a man if he possesseth the wealth that is called character.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சால்பு என்னும் திண்மை உண்டாகப் பெறின்= சால்பு என்று சொல்லப்படும் வலி உண்டாகப்பெறின்; ஒருவற்கு இன்மை இளிவு அன்று= ஒருவனுக்கு நல்குரவு இளிவாகாது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If a man has the strength called fullness of character, poverty is no disgrace to him. (Parimelazhagar denies only the disgrace; nowhere does he soften the hardship of poverty.)