Lack of Learning
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nuṇmā ṇuḻaipula millā ṉeḻiṉala / maṇmāṇ puṉaipāvai yaṟṟu
“Who lack the power of subtle, large, and penetrating sense, / Like puppet, decked with ornaments of clay, their beauty's vain pretence.”
“Behold the man whose understanding hath not been penetrated by the Grand and the Subtle: the comeliness of his person is no better than the beauty of an image of clay.”
The physical beauty of one without subtle, penetrating learning is like that of an exquisitely adorned doll made of clay.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நுண் மாண் நுழை புலம் இல்லான் எழில் நலம்= நுண்ணிதாய் மாட்சிமைப்பட்டுப் பல நூல்களினும் சென்ற அறிவு இல்லாதவனுடைய எழுச்சியும் அழகும்; மண் மாண் புனைபாவை அற்று= சுதையான் மாட்சிமைப்படப் புனைந்த பாவையுடைய எழுச்சியும் அழகும் போலும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The outward physical beauty of someone devoid of deep, subtle, and penetrating learning is like an exquisitely painted doll sculpted from clay.