Not Speaking Useless Words
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arumpayaṉ āyum aṟiviṉār sollār / perumpayaṉ illāta sol
“The wise who weigh the worth of every utterance, / Speak none but words of deep significance.”
“The wise whose thoughts are set on great questions utter not words that are profitless and vain.”
Those whose minds weigh rare, deep purposes will not utter words empty of any real benefit.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அரும் பயன் ஆயும் அறிவினார் = அறிதற்கு அரிய பயன்களை ஆராய வல்ல அறிவினை உடையார்; பெரும் பயன் இல்லாத சொல் சொல்லார் = மிக்க பயன் உடைய அல்லாத சொற்களைச் சொல்லார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
People capable of examining rare benefits do not speak words that lack substantial benefit.