Tyrannical Rule
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allaṟpaṭ ṭāṟṟā taḻutakaṇ ṇīraṉṟē / celvattait tēykkum paṭai.
The tears shed by subjects whose suffering has passed endurance become the very force that wears away the oppressive ruler's wealth.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“His people's tears of sorrow past endurance, are not they / Sharp instruments to wear the monarch's wealth away?”
“Verily it is the tears of those groaning under oppression that wear away the prosperity of the prince.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அல்லல்பட்டு ஆற்றாது அழுத கண்ணீர் அன்றே= அரசன் முறைசெய்யாமையான் குடிகள் துன்பமுற்று அதனைப் பொறுக்கமாட்டாது அழுதகண்ணீர் அன்றே; செல்வத்தைத் தேய்க்கும் படை= அவன் செல்வத்தைக் குறைக்கும் கருவி.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that the tears of subjects who suffer because the ruler fails to do justice and can bear that suffering no longer are themselves the instrument that diminishes his wealth.