Following a Wife's Direction
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maṉaiviḻaivār māṇpaya ṉeytār viṉaiviḻaivār / vēṇṭāp poruḷu matu.
“Who give their soul to love of wife acquire not nobler gain; / Who give their soul to strenuous deeds such meaner joys disdain.”
“Those that dote upon their wives will not attain to greatness: those that have the ambition to do great things turn away from such seduction.”
Those infatuated with their wives achieve no lofty purpose; and that very weakness is shunned by those bent on noble action.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மனைவிழைவார் மாண் பயன் எய்தார்= இன்பங்காரணமாகத் தம் மனையாளை விழைந்து அவள்தன்மையராய் ஒழுகுவார் தமக்கு இன்றுணையாய அறத்தினை எய்தார்; வினை விழைவார் வேண்டாப் பொருளும் அது= இனிப் பொருள்செய்தலை முயல்வார் அதற்கு இடையீடு என்று இகழும் பொருளும் அவ்வின்பம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Those who surrender their judgment solely out of infatuation with their wives will never attain exalted achievements; indeed, such subservience is thoroughly shunned by those devoted to accomplishing great deeds.