Acting after Deliberation
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teḷivilataṉait toṭaṅkā riḷiveṉṉu / mētappā ṭañcu pavar
Those who fear the reproach of disgrace do not begin an undertaking that has not been examined into clarity.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A work of which the issue is not clear, / Begin not they reproachful scorn who fear.”
“Behold the men who fear to be ridiculed by others: they start not on any enterprise without previous deliberation.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தெளிவு இலதனைத் தொடங்கார் = இனத்தொடும் தனித்தும் ஆராய்ந்து துணிதலில்லாத வினையைத் தொடங்கார்; இளிவு என்னும் ஏதப்பாடு அஞ்சுபவர்= தமக்கு இளிவரவு என்னும் குற்றம் உண்டாதலை அஞ்சுவார்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar connects a lack of examined clarity with the disgrace that careless action can bring. The verse values accountable deliberation before beginning, not a general fear of criticism.