Truthfulness
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uḷḷattāṟ poyyā toḻuki ṉulakattā / ruḷḷattu ḷellā muḷaṉ
One who lives without falsehood in the heart lives in the hearts of people throughout the world.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“True to his inmost soul who lives,- enshrined / He lives in souls of all mankind.”
“Behold the man whose heart is free from falsehood: he reigneth in the hearts of all.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உள்ளத்தால் பொய்யாது ஒழுகின்= ஒருவன் தன் உள்ளத்திற்கு ஏற்பப் பொய்கூறாது ஒழுகுவான் ஆயின்; உலகத்தார் உள்ளத்துள் எல்லாம் உளன்= அவன் உயர்ந்தோர் உள்ளத்தின்கண் எல்லாம் உளனாம்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that a person whose speech agrees with the heart and avoids falsehood gains a place in the hearts of the wise. The universal language praises trustworthy presence; it does not guarantee popularity or agreement from everyone.