Avoiding Fear-Inspiring Rule
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iṟaikaṭiya ṉeṉṟuraikku miṉṉāccol vēnta / ṉuṟaikaṭuki yollaik keṭum.
The ruler burdened by the bitter saying, ‘Our king is cruel,’ will have his life shortened and will quickly lose his prosperity.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“'Ah! cruel is our king', where subjects sadly say, / His age shall dwindle, swift his joy of life decay.”
“Behold the prince whose cruelty is a byword among his people: his days will be shortened and he will perish forthwith.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இறை கடியன் என்று உரைக்கும் இன்னாச் சொல்வேந்தன்= குடிகளான் நம்மிறைவன் கடியன் என்று சொல்லப்படும் இன்னாத சொல்லையுடைய வேந்தன்; உறைகடுகி ஒல்லைக் கெடும்= ஆயுளும்குறைந்து செல்வமும் கடிதின் இழக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a king about whom his subjects utter the painful words ‘our ruler is cruel’ will have his lifespan shortened and will rapidly lose his wealth.