Poverty
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tolvaravun tōluṅ keṭukkun tokaiyāka / nalkura veṉṉu nacai.
“Importunate desire, which poverty men name, / Destroys both old descent and goodly fame.”
“The itching that goeth by the name of Indigence killeth dignity of demeanour and refinement of speech, even though they run in the very blood.”
The sting of poverty destroys at once both ancestral honor and dignified speech.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நல்குரவு என்னும் நசை= நல்குரவு என்று சொல்லப்படும் ஆசை; தொல்வரவும் தோலும் தொகையாகக் கெடுக்கும்= தன்னாற் பற்றப்பட்டாருடைய பழைய குடிவரவினையும், அதற்கேற்ற சொல்லினையும் ஒருங்கே கெடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
When the craving that is poverty grips a person, it ruins together both their ancient family heritage and the dignified speech that once adorned their lineage.