Considerate Regard
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
paṇṇeṉṉām pāṭaṟ kiyaipiṉṟēṟ kaṇṇeṉṉāṅ / kaṇṇōṭṭa millāta kaṇ.
What use is a musical mode if it does not suit the song? What use are eyes that hold no considerate regard?
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Where not accordant with the song, what use of sounding chords? / What gain of eye that no benignant light affords?”
“To what end is the song that cannot be sung? and what is the worth of the eye that showeth not indulgence?”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பண் என்னாம் பாடற்கு இயைபு இன்றேல்= பண் என்ன பயத்ததாம் பாடல்தொழிலோடு பொருத்தம் இன்றாயின்; கண் என்னாம் கண்ணோட்டம் இல்லாத கண்= அதுபோலக் கண் என்னபயத்ததாம் கண்ணோட்டம் இல்லாத இடத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentary compares an unsuitable musical mode with eyes that lack considerate regard: each fails its fitting purpose. The comparison concerns the ethical completion of perception, not the worth or morality of people with visual disabilities.