நியாயமான காரணங்கள் இல்லாத இல்லாமை ஒருவனுக்கு இருந்தால், பெற்ற தாய் கூட அவனை அந்நியனாகவே பார்ப்பாள்.

வறுமை வந்தது என்பதற்காக, அறநெறியிலிருந்து விலகி நிற்பவனை, அவன் தாய்கூட அயலானைப் போல்தான் கருதுவாள்

அறத்தோடு பொருந்தாத வறுமை ஒருவனைச் சேர்ந்தால் பெற்றத் தாயாலும் அவன் அயலானைப் போல் புறக்கணித்துப் பார்க்கப்படுவான்.

He that is reduced to absolute poverty will be regarded as a stranger even by his own mother

Kural 1047 deals with the harsh reality of extreme poverty and societal perception. The verse states that when a person slips into the abyss of destitution, devoid of righteousness, even their own mother would regard them as a stranger. The emphasis here is not necessarily on the literal maternal relationship, but more on the perception of society and close relations. In the Tamil culture, a mother symbolizes unconditional love, compassion, and forgiveness. If even a mother, who is usually the last person to abandon her child, starts perceiving her child as a stranger, it indicates the immense degradation that poverty can cause in a person's social standing. Moreover, it underlines the unfortunate reality that society often measures a person's worth by their wealth and material possessions. The 'unrighteous poverty' mentioned in the verse refers to poverty that is not born out of misfortune, but due to the individual's lack of moral character and discipline. Thus, the kural advises maintaining moral integrity and character, regardless of one's economic standing, as these virtues are valued more than wealth in a righteous society. It also subtly critiques societal norms that measure a person's worth based on their wealth or lack thereof.