Possession of Knowledge
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añcuva tañcāmai pētaimai yañcuva / tañca laṟivār toḻil
“Folly meets fearful ills with fearless heart; / To fear where cause of fear exists is wisdom's part.”
“It is folly to rush headlong into danger: it is the part of the wise to fear what ought to be feared.”
Not fearing what ought to be feared is folly; fearing what deserves fear is the conduct of the knowledgeable.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சாமை பேதைமை- அஞ்சப்படுவதனை அஞ்சாமை பேதைமையாம்; அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சல் அறிவார் தொழில்- அவ்வஞ்சப்படுவதனை அஞ்சுதல் அறிவார் தொழிலாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Failing to fear what ought rightfully to be feared is reckless foolishness; dreading that which genuinely demands caution is the mark of the truly wise.