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Kural 438

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paṟṟuḷḷa meṉṉu mivaṟaṉmai yeṟṟuḷḷu / meṇṇap paṭuvatoṉ ṟaṉṟu

🎬 குறள் கதை · Story
G.U. Pope1886

“The greed of soul that avarice men call, / When faults are summed, is worst of all.”

V.V.S. Aiyar1916

“Closefisted parsimony is not a vice to be classed with other vices: it formeth a class apart.”

Modern readingAI draft

The avarice called a clinging mind is not merely one fault to be counted among all faults; it stands beyond them in gravity.

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Parimelazhagar’s commentary

13th century · public domain

Parimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.

பற்றுள்ளம் என்னும் இவறன்மை= பொருளைவிடத் தகுமிடத்து விடாது பற்றுதலைச் செய்யும் உள்ளமாகிய உலோபத்தினது தன்மை; எற்றுள்ளும் எண்ணப்படுவது ஒன்று அன்று= குற்றத்தன்மைகள் எல்லாவற்றுள்ளும் வைத்து எண்ணப்படுவது ஒன்றன்று, மிக்கது.

Source: Tamil Wikisource

In plain EnglishAI draft · pending review

The wretched miserliness that obstinately clutches wealth is not merely one defect to be counted among ordinary faults; it surpasses all other flaws in gravity.