Testing and Trusting People
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tērāṉ ṟeḷivun teḷintāṉka ṇaiyuṟavun / tīrā viṭumpai tarum.
Trusting without examination and continuing to suspect someone after sound examination both bring unending trouble.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Trust where you have not tried, doubt of a friend to feel, / Once trusted, wounds inflict that nought can heal.”
“To trust a man whom thou hast not tried and to suspect a man whom thou hast found worthy lead alike to endless ills.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தேரான் தெளிவும்= அரசன் ஒருவனை ஆராயாது தெளிதலும்; தெளிந்தான்கண் ஐயுறவும்= ஆராய்ந்து தெளிந்தவன்மாட்டு ஐயப்படுதலும் இவ்விரண்டும்; தீரா இடும்பை தரும்= அவனுக்கு நீங்காத துன்பத்தைக் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that two errors bring a ruler unending trouble: trusting a person without examination, and continuing to doubt a person after examination has established confidence.