Avoiding Harmful Associations
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ciṟṟiṉa mañcum perumai ciṟumaitāṉ / cuṟṟamāc cūḻntu viṭum
Greatness is wary of harmful company; pettiness readily gathers it as intimate kin.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The great of soul will mean association fear; / The mean of soul regard mean men as kinsmen dear.”
“Men of worth fear vulgar company: but little-minded men mix with it as if they made one family with it.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பெருமை சிற்றினம் அஞ்சும்= பெரியோர் இயல்பு சிறிய இனத்தை அஞ்சாநிற்கும்; சிறுமைதான் சுற்றமாச் சூழ்ந்து விடும்= ஏனைச் சிறியோர் இயல்பு அது சேர்ந்தபொழுது அதனைத் தனக்குச் சுற்றமாக எண்ணித் துணியும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar contrasts two dispositions: the great keep wary distance from a circle marked by harmful conduct, while the petty willingly treat that circle as their own. The ranking is ethical and behavioral, not a classification by caste, race, class, occupation, neighborhood, or birth.