False Conduct
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puṟaṅkuṉṟi kaṇṭaṉaiya rēṉu makaṅkuṉṟi / mūkkiṟ kariyā ruṭaittu
Some people may look as bright as the outer red of a kunri seed, yet within be dark like its black tip, says the verse.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Outward, they shine as 'kunri' berry's scarlet bright; / Inward, like tip of 'kunri' bead, as black as night.”
“The kunri seed is fair on one side, but the other side of it is black: there are men who are like unto it: they are fair on the outside, but their inside is all black.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
(இதன் பொருள்) குன்றிப் புறம் கண்டு அனையரேனும்= குன்றியின் புறம்போல வேடத்தாற் செம்மை உடையராயினும்; குன்றி மூக்கின் அகம் கரியார் உடைத்து= அதன் மூக்குப்போல மனம் இருண்டிருப்பாரை உடைத்து உலகம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar uses the two colours of the kunri seed: an ascetic appearance may look red and pure outside while the mind remains dark within. The botanical colour contrast describes conduct concealed by presentation.