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Kural 286

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aḷaviṉka ṇiṉṟoḻuka lāṟṟār kaḷaviṉkaṭ / kaṉṟiya kāta lavar

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“They cannot walk restrained in wisdom's measured bound, / In whom inveterate lust of fraudful gain is found.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“The man who thirsteth after plunder cannot weigh things aright: nor can he walk in the way of righteousness.”

Modern readingAI draft

Those whose desire is deeply fixed on theft cannot live by the measured discernment of soul, moral consequence, and liberation.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

அளவின்கண் நின்று ஒழுகல் ஆற்றார்- உயிர் முதலியவற்றை அளத்தலாகிய நெறியின்கண் நின்று அதற்கு ஏற்ப ஒழுகமாட்டார்; களவின்கண் கன்றிய காதலவர்= களவின்கண்ணே மிக் வேட்கையை உடையார்.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

Those whose minds are intensely fixated on wrongful gain are entirely unable to live within the measured bounds of ethical discernment and moral justice.