The Way of Acquiring Wealth
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illārai yellāru meḷḷuvar celvarai / yellāruñ ceyvar ciṟappu.
“Those who have nought all will despise; / All raise the wealthy to the skies.”
“The indigent are decried by all: but everyone exalteth the man of substance.”
People of every relation may despise those without wealth and defer to those who possess it—a diagnosis of biased social treatment, not a measure of human worth.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உயரச்செய்தல்= தாம் தாழ்ந்து நிற்றல். இகழ்தற்கண்ணும் தாழ்தற்கண்ணும் பகைவர், நட்டார், நொதுமலர் என்னும் மூவகையாரும் ஒத்தலின், யாவரும் என்றார். பின்னும் கூறியது, அதனை வலியுறுத்தல் பொருட்டு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The world looks down upon those who lack resources, but everyone readily accords honor, dignity, and high regard to the wealthy.