Avoiding Fear-Inspiring Rule
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kaṭuñcollaṉ kaṇṇila ṉāyi ṉeṭuñcelva / nīṭiṉṟi yāṅkē keṭum.
If a ruler is harsh in speech and without compassionate regard, his great prosperity will fail there and then, without endurance.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The tyrant, harsh in speach and hard of eye, / His ample joy, swift fading, soon shall die.”
“If the prince is harsh of word and unforgiving, his prosperity, be it ever so great, will come to an end quickly.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கடும் சொல்லன் கண் இலன் ஆயின் = அரசன் கடிய சொல்லையும் உடையனாய்க் கண்ணோட்டமும் இலன் ஆயின்; நெடுஞ் செல்வம் நீடு இன்றி ஆங்கே கெடும் = அவனது பெரிய செல்வம் நீடுதலின்றி அப்பொழுதே கெடும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that if a king both uses harsh speech and lacks kaṇṇōṭṭam—merciful, considerate regard for his subjects—his great wealth will not endure but will begin to fail at once.