Naadi nandrenru arindhtum pizhappavar
Koodi uDambin kuzhaivu.
Those who know what is right and yet err — their error comes from the body's weakness joining with the mind's failure.
நல்லது என்று அறிந்தும் தவறு செய்பவர்களுக்கு, உடலும் மனமும் சேர்ந்து பலவீனமடைவதால் பிழை நேர்கிறது.
Knowing right and doing wrong is the fundamental human tragedy. Valluvar identifies its cause: body weakness + mind-body collusion. The body's sensory desires and the mind's failure to resist create together the conditions for acting against one's own knowledge. Proper conduct requires both mental and physical discipline.