Abstaining from Intoxicants
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īṉṟāṇ mukattēyu miṉṉātā leṉmaṟṟuc / cāṉṟōr mukattuk kaḷi.
“The drunkard's joy is sorrow to his mother's eyes; / What must it be in presence of the truly wise?”
“The sight of the man who is intoxicated is an abomination even unto his own mother: what must it be then to the worthy?”
Intoxication is unbearable even to one's own mother; how much more repugnant before the wise!
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஈன்றாள் முகத்தேயும் களி இன்னாது= யாது செய்யினும் உவக்கும் தாய் முன்பாயினும் கள்ளுண்டு களித்தல் இன்னாதாம்; மற்றுச் சான்றோர் முகத்து என்= ஆனபின், குற்றம் யாதும் பொறாத சான்றோர்முன்பு களித்தல் அவர்க்கியாதாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Intoxication is utterly repugnant even in the presence of one's own forgiving mother; how much more abhorrent must it be before wise, disciplined elders!