The Dread of Begging
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iṉmai yiṭumpai yirantutīr vāmeṉṉum / vaṉmaiyiṉ vaṉpāṭṭa til.
“Nothing is harder than the hardness that will say, / 'The plague of penury by asking alms we'll drive away.'”
“Nothing is hardier than the hardihood that sayeth to itself, I shall put an end to my indigence by begging.”
Nothing is as stubbornly foolish as choosing to escape poverty through begging rather than honest effort.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இன்மை இடும்பை இரந்து தீர்வாம் என்னும் வன்மையின்= வறுமையான் வரும் துன்பத்தை முயன்று நீக்கக் கடவேம் என்று கருதாது இரந்து நீக்கக் கடவேம் என்று கருதும் வன்மை போல; வன்பாட்டது இல்= வலிமைப்பாடுடையது பிறிது இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
There is no harder or more obstinate delusion than resolving to alleviate the pain of poverty by begging from others rather than by one's own hardworking exertion.