Choosing People for Responsibilities
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aṉpaṟivu tēṟṟa mavāviṉmai yinnāṉku / naṉkuṭaiyāṉ kaṭṭē teḷivu.
Confidence belongs with one who steadily possesses these four: loyal affection toward the ruler, understanding of what benefits him, unwavering resolve in carrying it out, and freedom from greed when resources come into hand.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A loyal love with wisdom, clearness, mind from avarice free; / Who hath these four good gifts should ever trusted be.”
“Let him alone be selected for service who is endowed with kindness and intelligence and decision, and who is free from greed.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அன்பு= அரசன்மாட்டு அன்பும்; அறிவு= அவனுக்காவன அறியும் அறிவும்; தேற்றம்= அவை செய்தற்கண் கலங்காமையும்; அவாவின்மை= அவற்றாற் பொருள் கையுற்றவழி அதன்மேல் அவா இன்மையுமாகிய; இந்நான்கும் உடையான்கட்டே தெளிவு= இந்நான்கு குணங்களையும் நிலைபெற உடையான் மேலதே வினையை விட்டிருக்கும் தெளிவு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar identifies four qualities required for confidence in royal service: affection or loyal attachment toward the king, practical understanding of what benefits him, freedom from wavering while carrying it out, and absence of greed when the work brings resources into the servant's hands. The work may be entrusted to one who possesses all four steadily.