The Wealth of Children
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tandai magaṟku āṟṟum naṉṟi avaiyattu / mundi iruppac ceyal
“Sire greatest boon on son confers, who makes him meet, In councils of the wise to fill the highest seat.”
“What is the duty of the father to his son? It is to make him worthy to sit in the front rank in the assembly.”
The greatest gift a father can render his child is to nurture them so they sit foremost in the assembly of the wise.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தந்தை மகற்கு ஆற்றும் நன்றி = தந்தை புதல்வனுக்குச் செய்யும் நன்மையாவது; அவையத்து முந்தி இருப்பச் செயல் = கற்றார் அவையத்தின்கண் அவரினும் மிக்கிருக்குமாறு கல்வியுடையனாக்குதல். (பொருளுடையனாக்குதல் முதலாயின, துன்பம் பயத்தலின் நன்மையாகா என்பது கருத்து. இதனால் தந்தை கடன் கூறப்பட்டது.)
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The greatest good a father can do for his son is to nurture him with wisdom so that he stands foremost in the assembly of the learned.