Abstaining from Anger
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cellā viṭattuc ciṉantītu celliṭattu / millataṉiṟ ṟīya piṟa
Anger where it cannot strike is harmful to the angry person; where it can strike, no evil is worse than using that power in anger.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Where power is none to wreak thy wrath, wrath importent is ill; / Where thou hast power thy will to work, 'tis greater, evil still.”
“It is wrong to get angry even when thou art helpless to strike: and when thou hast the power, there is nothing that is worse than anger.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
சினம் செல்லா இடத்துத் தீது= ஒருவன் வெகுளி தன்னின் வலியார்மேல் எழின் தனக்கே தீதாம்; செல் இடத்தும் அதனின் தீய பிற இல்= மற்றை எளியார்மேல் எழினும் அதனின் தீயன பிற இல்லை.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar distinguishes two directions of anger. Anger aimed at someone stronger rebounds on the angry person; anger aimed at someone weaker can be carried out, and abusing that advantage is worse than any other form of it.