Avoiding Forgetfulness
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ikaḻcciyiṟ keṭṭārai yuḷḷuka tāntam / makiḻcciyiṉ maintuṟum pōḻtu.
When rulers become strong or overborne in their own delight, they should remember those previously ruined by negligence born of contempt or complacency.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Think on the men whom scornful mind hath brought to nought, / When exultation overwhelms thy wildered thought.”
“When thou art tempted to be self-complacent and elated, call to thy kind those that have perished by their supineness.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தம் மகிழ்ச்சியின் தாம் மைந்து உறும் போழ்து= அரசர் தம் மகிழ்ச்சிக்கண் தாம் வலியுறும்பொழுது; இகழ்ச்சியின் கெட்டாரை உள்ளுக= முற்காலத்து அதனின்ஆய சோர்வாற் கெட்டவர்களை நினைக்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that when rulers feel powerful within the delight of their own success, they should remember those in earlier times who were ruined by the neglect that arose from such contempt or complacency.