Not Coveting
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aṟaṉaṟintu veḵkā aṟivuṭaiyārs sērum / tiṟaṉaṟintu āṅkē tiru
“Good fortune draws anigh in helpful time of need, / To him who, schooled in virtue, guards his soul from greed.”
“Behold the wise man that understandeth justice and coveteth not: Lakshmi knoweth his worth and seeketh him in his home.”
Fortune seeks out, of her own accord, the wise who know what is right and never covet — she finds the way to their door.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அறன் அறிந்து வெஃகா அறிவுடையார் = இஃது அறன் என்று அறிந்து பிறர் பொருளை விரும்பாத அறிவுடையாரை; திரு திறன் அறிந்து ஆங்கே சேரும் = திருமகள் தான் அடைதற்கு ஆம் கூற்றினை அறிந்து அக்கூற்றானே சென்று அடையும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Fortune herself, knowing the right way to reach them, seeks out the wise who understand virtue and never covet — she comes to their door of her own accord. Wealth is drawn to the uncovetous.