Nobility of Character
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vaḻaṅkuva tuḷvīḻntak kaṇṇum paḻaṅkuṭi / paṇpiṟ ṟalaippirita liṉṟu.
“Though stores for charity should fail within, the ancient race / Will never lose its old ancestral grace.”
“Behold the men of ancient family: they give not up their liberality even when their means of munificence are diminished.”
Even when their capacity to give diminishes through poverty, an ancient noble house never parts with its virtues.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பழங்குடி= தொன்றுதொட்டு வருகின்ற குடியின்கண் பிறந்தார்; வழங்குவது உள்வீழ்ந்தக் கண்ணும்= தாம் கொடுக்கும் பொருள் பண்டையிற் சுருங்கிய இடத்தும்; பண்பின் தலைப்பிரிதல் இன்று= தம் பண்புடைமையின் நீங்கார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even when impoverished circumstances diminish their capacity to give generously, an ancient noble family never abandons its innate graciousness.