Knowing the Assembly
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aṅkaṇattu ḷukka vamiḻtaṟṟāṟ ṟaṅkaṇatta / rallārmuṟ kōṭṭi koḷal.
“Ambrosia in the sewer spilt, is word / Spoken in presence of the alien herd.”
“A discourse spoken before the unworthy is like unto ambrosia spilled on filthy ground.”
Presenting precious discourse before people not prepared to receive it is like spilling nectar in an unclean courtyard.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தம் கணத்தார் அல்லார் முன் கோட்டி கொளல்= நல்லார் தம்இனத்த அல்லாதார் அவைக்கண் ஒன்றனையும் சொல்லற்க; அங்கணத்துள் உக்க அமிழ்து அற்று= சொல்லின் அது தூய்தல்லாத முற்றத்தின்கண் உக்க அமிழ்தத்தினை ஒக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Expounding profound, sublime learning before those incapable of appreciating noble character is like spilling sacred nectar into a filthy courtyard sewer.