The Worth of a Wife
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maṅgalam eṉba maṉaimāṭci maṟṟadaṉ / naṉkalam naṉmakkaṭ pēṟu
“The house's 'blessing', men pronounce the house-wife excellent; The gain of blessed children is its goodly ornament.”
“The chiefest blessing is an honourable home: and its crowning glory is worthy offspring.”
The defining nobility of the home is its sacred blessing; and the crowning jewel of that household is the birth of virtuous children.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மங்கலம் என்ப மனைமாட்சி = (ஒருவற்கு) நன்மையென்று சொல்லுவர் (அறிந்தோர்), மனையாளது நற்குண நற்செய்கைகளை; அதன் நன்கலம் (என்ப) நன்மக்கட் பேறு = அவைதமக்கு நல்ல அணிகலமென்று சொல்லுவர் நல்ல புதல்வரைப் பெறுதலை. ('அறிந்தோர்' என்பது, எஞ்சிநின்றது. மற்று அசைநிலை.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Wisdom says the defining virtue of the home is its sacred auspiciousness; and the crowning jewel of that home is the blessing of good, noble children.