Possession of Knowledge
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ceṉṟa viṭattāṟ celaviṭā tītorīi / naṉṟiṉpā luyppa taṟivu
“Wisdom restrains, nor suffers mind to wander where it would; / From every evil calls it back, and guides in way of good.”
“It is the understanding that curbeth the senses from roving about, keepeth them from evil, and directeth them towards the Good.”
Wisdom does not let the mind continue wherever it has wandered; examining harm and benefit, it draws the mind away from evil and guides it toward good.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சென்ற இடத்தால் செல விடா= மனத்தை அது சென்ற புலத்தின்கட் செல்லவிடாது; தீது ஒரீஇ நன்றின் பால் உய்ப்பது அறிவு= அப்புலத்தின் நன்மைதீமைகளை ஆராய்ந்து தீயதனின் நீக்கி நல்லதன்கட் செலுத்துவது அறிவு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
True wisdom prevents the mind from wandering aimlessly after sensory impulses; it restrains it from evil and steers it decisively toward virtue.