Poverty
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naṟporu ṇaṉkuṇarntu colliṉu nalkūrntār / coṟporuḷ cōrvu paṭum.
Though they have grasped sound matter clearly and said it well, the sense of the words of those who have come into want comes to nothing.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though deepest sense, well understood, the poor man's words convey, / Their sense from memory of mankind will fade away.”
“The words of the indigent will carry no weight even when they expound grand truths with masterly skill and knowledge.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நற்பொருள் நன்கு உணர்ந்து சொல்லினும்= மெய்ந்நூற் பொருளைத் தெளிய அறிந்து சொன்னாராயினும்; நல்கூர்ந்தார் சொற்பொருள் சோர்வு படும்= நல்கூர்ந்தார் சொல்லும் சொற்பொருள் இன்மையைத் தலைப்படும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even when they know the substance of what they say and say it well, the meaning of a poor person's words falls away unheard.