Farming
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ilameṉ ṟacaii yiruppāraik kāṇi / ṉilameṉṉu nallā ṇakum.
“The earth, that kindly dame, will laugh to see, / Men seated idle pleading poverty.”
“The fair one called Earth laugheth to herself when she seeth the sluggard cry, saying, Alas, I have nothing to eat.”
Mother Earth laughs in scorn at those who sit idle, complaining that they have nothing.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இலம் என்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்= யாம் வறியேம் என்று சொல்லி மடிந்திருப்பாரைக் கண்டால்; நிலம் என்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்= நிலமகள் என்று உயர்த்துச் சொல்லப்படுகின்ற நல்லாள், தன்னுள்ளே நகாநிற்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Seeing people who sit idle and whine that they have nothing while leaving the soil untilled, Mother Earth laughs in silent scorn.