Truthfulness
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poyyāmai poyyāmai yāṟṟi ṉaṟampiṟa / ceyyāmai ceyyāmai naṉṟu
If one can practise truthfulness—truthfulness without fail—it is good even if other virtues remain undone, says the verse.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“If all your life be utter truth, the truth alone, / 'Tis well, though other virtuous acts be left undone.”
“If a map can live without ever uttering a falsehood, all other virtue is superfluous unto him.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொய்யாமை பொய்யாமை ஆற்றின்= ஒருவன் பொய்யாமையே பொய்யாமையே செய்யவல்லவனாயின்; பிற அறம் செய்யாமை செய்யாமை நன்று= அவன் பிற அறங்களைச்செய்யாமையே செய்யாமையே நன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Through emphatic repetition, Parimelazhagar presents unwavering truthfulness as sufficient even without other virtuous acts. This is a poetic ethical ranking of truth as a foundation; it cannot excuse neglect of care, justice, consent, competence, or repair.