Acting after Deliberation
கடை.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
naṉṟāṟṟa luḷḷun tavaṟuṇ ṭavaravar / paṇpaṟin tāṟṟāk kaṭai.
Even in doing good there is error if one does not understand each person's disposition and act in a way fitted to it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though well the work be done, yet one mistake is made, / To habitudes of various men when no regard is paid.”
“Even in doing good thou mayest err, it thou suit not the benefit to the character of him that receiveth.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நன்று ஆற்றல் உள்ளும் தவறு உண்டு= வேற்று வேந்தர்மாட்டு நன்றான உபாயஞ் செய்தற்கண்ணுங் குற்றமுண்டாம்; அவரவர் பண்பு அறிந்து ஆற்றாக் கடை= அவரவர் குணங்களை ஆராய்ந்து அறிந்து அவற்றிற்கு இயையச் செய்யாவிடின்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar makes beneficial intent insufficient by itself: action must be fitted to the particular recipient. A modern application should learn through listening and consent, not stereotype people by supposed character.