Purity of Action
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paḻimalain teytiya vākkattiṟ cāṉṟōr / kaḻinal kuravē talai.
“Than store of wealth guilt-laden souls obtain, / The sorest poverty of perfect soul is richer gain.”
“The indigence of the worthy is better far than wealth that is amassed by dishonourable means.”
The deep poverty of the worthy is superior to wealth obtained by embracing blame.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பழிமலைந்து எய்திய ஆக்கத்தின்= சாலாதார் தீய வினைகளைச் செய்து, அதனாற் பழியைத் தம்மேற் கொண்டு பெற்றசெல்வத்தின்; சான்றோர் கழி நல்குரவே தலை= அது மேற்கொள்ளாத சான்றோர் அனுபவிக்கும் மிக்க நல்குரவே உயர்ந்தது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Far superior to wealth amassed by taking infamy and blame upon oneself is the extreme poverty endured by the virtuous.