Wealth Without Benefit
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īṭṭa mivaṟi yicaivēṇṭā vāṭavar / tōṟṟa nilakkup poṟai.
“Who lust to heap up wealth, but glory hold not dear, / It burthens earth when on the stage of being they appear.”
“Behold the men that are always after hoarding but care not for fame: their existence is a burden unto the earth.”
Those who only crave amassing wealth without caring for the honor of giving are a mere burden to the earth.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஈட்டம் இவறி இசை வேண்டா ஆடவர் தோற்றம்= யாம் பிறரின் மிக ஈட்டுதும் என்று, பொருளினது ஈட்டல் மாத்திரத்தையே விரும்பி, அதன் பயனாய புகழை விரும்பாத மக்களது பிறப்பு; நிலக்குப் பொறை= நிலத்திற்குப் பாரமாம் அத்துணையே.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who obsess solely over amassing wealth and care nothing for the enduring renown of generosity are merely a useless burden to the earth.