Choosing People for Responsibilities
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eṉaivakaiyāṟ ṟēṟiyak kaṇṇum viṉaivakaiyāṉ / vēṟāku māntar palar.
Even after people have been examined in every way and trusted, many become different because of the particular nature of the work.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Even when tests of every kind are multiplied, / Full many a man proves otherwise, by action tried!”
“Many are the men that satisfy every test and yet alter in the actual performance of duty.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
எனை வகையான் தேறியக் கண்ணும்= எல்லா வகையானும் ஆராய்ந்து தெளிந்து வினைவைத்த பின்னும்; வினைவகையான் வேறாகும் மாந்தர் பலர்= அவ்வினையின் இயல்பானே வேறுபடும் மாந்தர் உலகத்துப் பலர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that, even after a person has been examined in every possible way, judged fit, and assigned a task, many people in the world become different because of the particular nature of that work.