Shallow Understanding
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aṟivilār tāntammaip pīḻikkum pīḻai / ceṟuvārkkuñ ceyta laritu.
“With keener anguish foolish men their own hearts wring, / Than aught that even malice of their foes can bring.”
“The troubles that a fool bringeth down on his head, it is hard even for his enemies to cause him.”
The suffering that people of shallow understanding inflict upon themselves is difficult even for their worst enemies to cause.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அறிவிலார் தாம் தம்மைப் பீழிக்கும் பீழை= புல்லறிவுடையார் தாமே தம்மை வருத்தும் வருத்தம்; செறுவார்க்கும் செய்தல் அரிது= அது செய்தற்கு உரியராய தம்பகைவர்க்கும் செய்தல் அரிது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The severe suffering and ruin that shallow-minded people bring upon themselves by rejecting sound advice cannot be inflicted even by their worst enemies.