The Wealth of Children
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amizhdiṉum āṟṟa iṉidē tam makkaḷ / siṟu kai aḷāviya kūzh
Even simple porridge stirred by the tiny hands of one's dear children is sweeter by far than heavenly ambrosia.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Than God's ambrosia sweeter far the food before men laid, In which the little hands of children of their own have play'd.”
“Sweeter verily than ambrosia is the plain soup bespattered by the tender hands of one's own children.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அமிழ்தினும் ஆற்ற இனிதே = சுவையான் அமிழ்தத்தினும் மிக இனிமை யுடைத்து; தம் மக்கள் சிறுகை அளாவிய கூழ் = தம் மக்களது சிறுகையான் அளாவப்பட்ட சோறு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Even simple porridge touched and stirred by the tiny hands of one's children is far sweeter than divine ambrosia.