Farming
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cuḻaṉṟu mērppiṉṉa tulaka mataṉā / luḻantu muḻavē talai.
However people circle through other trades, the world comes at last to stand behind the plough; so, with all its hardship borne, tillage and nothing else is the head of all work.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Howe'er they roam, the world must follow still the plougher's team; / Though toilsome, culture of the ground as noblest toil esteem.”
“Roam where they will, men must at last stand behind the plough for their food: in spite of every hardship, therefore, husbandry is the chiefest industry.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சுழன்றும் ஏர்ப்பின்னது உலகம்= உழுதலான் வரும் மெய்வருத்த நோக்கிப் பிறதொழில்களைச் செய்துதிரிந்தும், முடிவில் ஏருடையார் வழியதாயிற்று உலகம்; அதனால் உழந்தும் உழவே தலை= ஆதலான் எல்லா வருத்தமுற்றும், தலையாய தொழில் உழவே.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
People look at the bodily labour of ploughing, take up other trades and go round by them, and in the end the world still stands behind those who hold the plough. So however hard it is, ploughing is the first work.