Not Speaking Useless Words
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arumpayaṉ āyum aṟiviṉār sollār / perumpayaṉ illāta sol
Those whose minds weigh rare, deep purposes will not utter words empty of any real benefit.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The wise who weigh the worth of every utterance, / Speak none but words of deep significance.”
“The wise whose thoughts are set on great questions utter not words that are profitless and vain.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அரும் பயன் ஆயும் அறிவினார் = அறிதற்கு அரிய பயன்களை ஆராய வல்ல அறிவினை உடையார்; பெரும் பயன் இல்லாத சொல் சொல்லார் = மிக்க பயன் உடைய அல்லாத சொற்களைச் சொல்லார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
People capable of examining rare benefits do not speak words that lack substantial benefit.