Possession of Knowledge
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aṟivuṭaiyā rellā muṭaiyā raṟivilā / reṉṉuṭaiya rēṉu milar
“The wise is rich, with ev'ry blessing blest; / The fool is poor, of everything possessed.”
“He that hath understanding hath everything: but the fool though he possess everything hath nothing.”
Those with understanding possess everything; those without understanding possess nothing, whatever else they may own.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அறிவுடையார் எல்லாம் உடையார்- அறிவுடையார் பிறிதொன்றும் இலராயினும், எல்லாம் உடையராவார்; அறிவிலார் என்னுடையரேனும் இலர்= அறிவிலாதார் எல்லாம் உடையராயினும், ஒன்றும் இலராவார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those endowed with wisdom are possessed of everything, though they may lack material goods; the ignorant possess nothing of enduring value, whatever vast wealth they own.