Folly
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poypaṭu moṉṟō puṉaipūṇuṅ kaiyaṟiyāp / pētai viṉaimēṟ koḷiṉ.
“When fool some task attempts with uninstructed pains, / It fails; nor that alone, himself he binds with chains.”
“Behold the fool that taketh in his hand an enterprise of moment: he will not merely spoil it, he will qualify also for fetters.”
If one who does not know the method undertakes a task, will the work merely fail? The doer also becomes bound in trouble.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கையறியாப் பேதை வினைமேற்கொளின்= செய்யும் முறைமை அறியாத பேதை ஒரு கருமத்தை மேற்கொள்வனாயின்; பொய்படும் ஒன்றோ புனை பூணும்= அதுவும் புரைபடும், தானும் தளை பூணும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
When an ignorant person lacking basic operational competence undertakes an enterprise, not only does the project fail completely, but they also bring ruin and chains upon themselves.