Avoiding Fear-Inspiring Rule
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takkāṅku nāṭit talaiccellā vaṇṇattā / lottāṅ koṟuppatu vēntu.
A king is one who investigates impartially and punishes in proportion to the offence, in a way that prevents it from advancing or recurring.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who punishes, investigation made in due degree, / So as to stay advance of crime, a king is he.”
“The prince shall measure the guilt of the offender and punish him so that he offend not again: but the punishment shall not be excessive.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தக்காங்கு நாடி= ஒருவன் தன்னின் மெலியார் மேல் சென்றவழி அதனை நடுவாக நின்று ஆராய்ந்து; தலைச்செல்லா வண்ணத்தால் ஒத்தாங்கு ஒறுப்பது வேந்து= பின்னும் அது செய்யாமற் பொருட்டு அவனை அக்குற்றத்திற்கு ஒப்ப ஒறுப்பானே அரசனாவான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that when one person has wronged someone weaker, the king must stand impartially and investigate. A king then imposes punishment proportionate to that offence so it will not be committed again.