225. Work leaves evidence

நூறுமுறை மாவரைத்த கல்லின் வழுவழுப்பேகூறாமல் கூறும் குரல்

noorumurai maavaraitha kallin vazhuvazhuppekooraamal koorum kural

The stone that has ground flour a hundred times: its smoothness is a voice that speaks without speaking.

226. The unseen cost

ஊனுருக்கி ஆக்கியதை ஊரறியும் ஆக்கியவன்தானுருகல் யாரறி வார்

oonurukki aakkiyadhai oorariyum aakkiyavanthaanurukal yaarari vaar

The town knows what was made with melting flesh; who knows that the maker himself was melting?

In Tamil, ‘melting the flesh’ means toil that wastes the body; the same words can also mean rendering meat to cook a dish.

227. Marks cannot tell everything

நின்றவள் நின்றிடத்தின் தேய்வு நிலமறியும்சென்றபின் சொல்லாச் சுவடு

nindraval nindridathin theyvu nilamariyumsendrapin sollaas suvadu

The ground knows the wear where she stood; after she has gone, the trace does not tell.

A mark remains without giving any account of the one who left it.