Considerate Regard
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uḷapōṉ mukattevaṉ ceyyu maḷaviṉāṟ / kaṇṇōṭṭa millāta kaṇ.
What do eyes merely present on the face accomplish, if they show no considerate regard in due measure?
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The seeming eye of face gives no expressive light, / When not with duly meted kindness bright.”
“What is the use of eyes that merely show in the face, if they show not consideration for others according to their measure?”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
முகத்து உளபோல் எவன்செய்யும்= கண்டார்க்கு முகத்தின்கண் உளபோல் தோன்றல் அல்லது வேறுஎன்ன பயனைச் செய்யும்; அளவினான் கண்ணோட்டம் இல்லாத கண்= அளவிறவாத கண்ணோடுதலை உடையவல்லாத கண்கள்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The commentary asks what eyes accomplish by merely appearing on a face when they do not show regard in due measure. The measure matters: consideration is not indiscriminate permission that dissolves responsibility.