1328. Work outlasts workers

நெய்தார் இறந்தார் நெடுந்தறியின் பாவிழையைவைத்தார் வழியே நடை

neythaar irandaar nedundariyin paavizhaiyaivaithaar vazhiye nadai

They wove; they died. The warp is set on the tall loom-post, and the path is walked as it was laid.

On a handloom, warp threads are laid by walking back and forth between tall posts, so the weaving has its own walked path.

1329. Counting the undone

முடிக்கா திருந்தவன் நூறுடையான் ஒன்றுமுடித்தவன் ஒன்றுடை யான்

mudikkaa thirundavan noorudaiyaan ondrumudithavan ondrudai yaan

The one who did not finish has a hundred; the one who finished one has one.

The Tamil word for ‘has’ is the word for an owner; beside ‘did not finish’, it also counts what is left undone.

1330. Possibility stays open

விதைத்த விதையின் பயனொன்றே விள்ளாதவித்தினுள் காடே பயன்

vidhaitha vidhaiyin payanondre villaadhavithinul kaade payan

The yield of a sown seed is one; the yield within a seed that has not opened is a whole forest.