Not Envying
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avviya neñsattāṉ ākkamum sevviyāṉ / kēṭum niṉaikkap paṭum
“To men of envious heart, when comes increase of joy, / Or loss to blameless men, the 'why' will thoughtful hearts employ.”
“The affluence of the envious and the misery of the generous-minded are alike matter for wonder.”
The wealth of an envious heart and the ruin of an upright one are both things that make you wonder.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அவ்விய நெஞ்சத்தான் ஆக்கமும் = கோட்டத்தினைப் பொருந்திய மனத்தை உடையவனது ஆக்கமும்; செவ்வியான் கேடும் நினைக்கப்படும் = ஏனைச் செம்மை உடையவனது கேடும் உளவாயின் அவை ஆராயப்படும். ('கோட்டம்' ஈண்டு அழுக்காறு.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
When an envious-hearted person prospers and an upright, generous one suffers, it seems strange — so strange that the wise look past the present to past deeds for the cause, since envy never earns wealth nor goodness ruin.