The Possession of Self-control
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ellārkkum naṉṟām paṇital avaruḷḷum / selvarkkē selvam takaittu
“To all humility is goodly grace; but chief to them / With fortune blessed, -'tis fortune's diadem.”
“Humility is beautiful in all men: but alone on the rich doth it shine in all its splendour.”
Humility becomes everyone, but on those who are prosperous it shines like a crowning wealth.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பணிதல் எல்லார்க்கும் நன்றாம் = பெருமிதம் இன்றி அடங்குதல் எல்லார்க்கும் ஒப்ப நன்றே எனினும்; அவருள்ளும் செல்வர்க்கே செல்வம் தகைத்து = அவ்வெல்லாருள்ளும் செல்வம் உடையார்க்கே வேறொரு செல்வமாம் சிறப்பினை உடைத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Humility is good in everyone, but in those who are wealthy and powerful it shines with a special splendour — like a second wealth laid over the first. The higher you stand, the more your bowing becomes you.
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