The Way of Building a Family Name
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āḷviṉaiyu māṉṟa vaṟivu meṉaviraṇṭi / ṉīḷviṉaiyā ṉīḷuṅ kuṭi.
Exertion, and understanding grown full: a household lengthens by the unbroken work that carries both of them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The manly act and knowledge full, when these combine / In deed prolonged, then lengthens out the race's line.”
“Manly exertion and a sound understanding: it is the fullness of these two that exalteth the family.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆள்வினையும் ஆன்றஅறிவும் என இரண்டின் நீள்வினையான்= முயற்சியும், நிறைந்த அறிவும் என்ற சொல்லப்பட்ட இரண்டினையும் உடைய இடையறாத கருமச்செயலால்; குடி நீளும்= ஒருவன் குடி உயரும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
A household rises through work that does not break off — work carrying both effort and full understanding. ('Work that does not break off' is Parimelazhagar's phrase for it.)