Realising the Truth
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poruḷal lavaṟṟaip poruḷeṉ ṟuṇaru / maruḷāṉā māṇāp piṟappu
“Of things devoid of truth as real things men deem;- / Cause of degraded birth the fond delusive dream!”
“From the delusion of taking vanities for the Reality a man cometh by a life of sorrow.”
Mistaking what lacks ultimate reality for enduring reality is the delusion that produces a sorrowful birth.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொருள் அல்லவற்றைப் பொருள் என்று உணரும் மருளான் ஆம்= மெய்ப்பொருள் அல்லவற்றை மெய்ப்பொருள் என்று உணரும் விபரீத உணர்வானே உளதாம்; மாணாப் பிறப்பு= இன்பம் இல்லாத பிறப்பு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The tragic cycle of sorrowful rebirth springs entirely from the delusion that mistakes transient, unreal things for enduring reality.