Not Speaking Useless Words
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sīrmai siṟappoṭu nīṅkum payaṉila / nīrmai uṭaiyār soliṉ
“Gone are both fame and boasted excellence, / When men of worth speak words devoid of sense.”
“Even the worthy will lose honour and respect if they indulge in vain speaking.”
Even people of real worth lose their dignity and the respect it brings the moment they take to pointless talk.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பயன் இல நீர்மை உடையார் சொலின் = பயன் இலவாகிய சொற்களை இனிய நீர்மை உடையார் சொல்லுவார் ஆயின்; சீர்மை சிறப்பொடு நீங்கும் = அவரது விழுப்பமும் அதனால் வரும் நன்கு மதிக்கற்பாடும் உடனே நீங்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If people of good nature speak useless words, their excellence and the respect arising from it depart together.