Tyrannical Rule
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kolaimēṟ koṇṭāriṟ koṭitē yalaimēṟkoṇ / ṭallavai ceytoḻukum vēntu.
A ruler who harasses subjects for wealth and acts unjustly is crueller than those who have made killing their trade.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Than one who plies the murderer's trade, more cruel is the king / Who all injustice works, his subjects harassing.”
“Behold the prince who oppresseth his subjects and doth iniquity: he is worse than an assassin.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கொலை மேற்கொண்டாரின் கொடிது= பகைமை பற்றிக் கொல்லுதல் தொழிலை தம்மேற்கொண்டு ஒழுகுவாரினும் கொடியன்; அலை மேற்கொண்டு அல்லவை செய்து ஒழுகும் வேந்து= பொருள் வெஃகிக் குடிகளை அலைத்தல் தொழிலைத் தன்மேற்கொண்டு முறையல்லவற்றைச் செய்தொழுகும் வேந்தன்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that a king who covets wealth, makes his subjects suffer, and practises acts outside just order is crueller even than people who have taken killing through enmity as their trade.