Testing and Trusting People
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Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
kātaṉmai kantā vaṟivaṟiyārt tēṟutal / pētaimai yellān tarum.
Choosing someone solely out of affection when they lack the knowledge a trusted role requires brings every kind of folly.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“By fond affection led who trusts in men of unwise soul, / Yields all his being up to folly's blind control.”
“If thou choose a fool for thy confidential adviser because that thou lovest him, he will lead thee to endless follies.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
காதன்மை கந்தா அறிவு அறியார்த் தேறுதல்= அன்புடைமை பற்றுக்கோடாகத் தமக்கு அறிய வேண்டுவன அறியாதாரைத் தெளிதல்; பேதைமை எல்லாம் தரும்= அரசனுக்கு எல்லா அறியாமையையும் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that if a ruler makes affection alone the basis for trusting someone who does not know what the ruler needs known, that choice brings every kind of ignorance into the ruler's decisions.