The Wealth of Children
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kuzhal iṉidu yāzh iṉidu enba tam makkaḷ / mazhalaic col kēḷādavar
“'The pipe is sweet,' 'the lute is sweet,' by them't will be averred, Who music of their infants' lisping lips have never heard.”
“The flute is sweet and the guitar dulcet: so say they who have not heard the babbling speech of their little ones.”
'The flute is sweet, the lute is sweet,' say only those who have never heard the tender babble of their own little ones.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குழல் இனிது யாழ் இனிது என்ப = குழலிசை யினிது யாழிசை யினிது என்று சொல்லுவர்; தம் மக்கள் மழலைச் சொல் கேளாதவர் = தம் புதல்வருடைய குதலைச் சொற்களைக் கேளாதவர். (கேட்டவர் அவற்றினும் மழலைச்சொல் இனிது என்பர் என்பது குறிப்பெச்சம். இவை மூன்று பாட்டானும் இம்மைப்பயன் கூறப்பட்டது.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Only those who have not heard the sweet lisp of their own children will claim that the flute and the lute are sweet.