1119. What lasts must be learned

அழிபவை காண்பதற்கே யன்றோ விழிகள்ஒழியா திருப்பவை கல்

azhipavai kaanpadharke yandro vizhikalozhiyaa thiruppavai kal

What are eyes for, if not to see what perishes? Learn what does not perish.

Kal, ‘learn!’, also means ‘stone’, the figure for what stays as it is.

1120. Beauty that stays

கண்டார் மறக்கும் அழகன்று கண்மூடிநின்றாலும் நீங்கா அழகு

kandaar marakkum azhakandru kanmoodinindraalum neengaa azhaku

Not the beauty that is seen and forgotten: the beauty that will not leave though one stands with eyes shut.

1121. The heart doesn’t count

கண்ணெதிரே நூறிருக்கக் கண்டதொன்றே கண்ணாகும்எண்ணறியா நெஞ்சின் தொழில்

kannedhire noorirukkak kandadhondre kannaakumennariyaa nenjin thozhil

A hundred stand before the eyes, and the one that is seen becomes the very eye: such is the work of a heart that keeps no count.

‘Becomes the eye’: all one sees, and everything is seen through it. Tamil ‘eye’ also means one’s dearest. ‘Count’: both number and weighing.