Employing Spies
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
viṉaiceyvār tañcuṟṟam vēṇṭātā reṉṟāṅ / kaṉaivaraiyu mārāyva toṟṟu.
A spy is one who investigates all three—the ruler's agents, his own circle, and those opposed to him—through their words and deeds.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“His officers, his friends, his enemies, / All these who watch are trusty spies.”
“The prince shalt set spies to watch closely the officers of the realm, his own kindred, and his enemies.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தம் வினை செய்வார் சுற்றம் வேண்டாதார் என்ற அனைவரையும் ஆராய்வது= தம் காரியம் செய்வார், சுற்றத்தார், பகைவர் என்று சொல்லப்பட்ட அனைவரையும் சொல், செயல்களான் ஆராய்வானே; ஒற்று= ஒற்றனாவான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a spy examines, by what they say and do, all three groups: those who carry out the ruler's affairs, the ruler's relatives and associates, and his enemies.