Farming
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uḻaviṉār kaimmaṭaṅki ṉillai viḻaivatūum / viṭṭēmeṉ pārkku nilai.
If the hands of those who plough fold and stop, there is no standing left for those who say, “We have given up even what is desired.”
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“For those who 've left what all men love no place is found, / When they with folded hands remain who till the ground.”
“Even they who have renounced all desire will have to suffer if the husbandman sitteth still with folded arms.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உழவினார்கை மடங்கின்= உழுதலை உடையார் கை அதனைச் செய்யாது மடங்குமாயின்; விழைவதூஉம் விட்டேம் என்பார்க்கு நிலை இல்லை= யாவரும் விழையும் உணவும், யாம் துறந்தேம் என்பார்க்கு அவ்வறத்தின்கண் நிற்றலும் உளவாகா.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
If the hand that ploughs folds and does not do the work, the food everyone wants is not there — and neither is any standing left for those who say they have given the world up.