Cherishing Kindred
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potunōkkāṉ vēntaṉ varicaiyā nōkki / ṉatunōkki vāḻvār palar.
If a king does not regard everyone identically but recognises each according to rank or fitness, many relatives and retainers will remain with him for that distinction.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Where king regards not all alike, but each in his degree, / 'Neath such discerning rule many dwell happily.”
“It is good if the prince treateth not all his kinsmen alike but hath a graduated scale for each: for there are many that have an eye to privilege.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பொதுநோக்கான் வரிசையா நோக்கின்= எல்லாரையும் ஒருதன்மையராக நோக்காது, அரசன் தத்தம் தகுதிக்கு ஏற்ப நோக்குமாயின்; அதுநோக்கி வாழ்வார் பலர்= அச்சிறப்பு நோக்கி அவனை விடாது வாழும் சுற்றத்தார் பலர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that if a king does not regard everyone as identical but gives each person distinction according to that person's fitness, many relatives or retainers will remain with him because of that recognition.