Employing Spies
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oṟṟoṟṟit tanta poruḷaiyu maṟṟumō / roṟṟiṉā loṟṟik koḷal.
Information brought by one spy must also be investigated through another spy and accepted only after comparison.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Spying by spies, the things they tell / To test by other spies is well.”
“Even the information that hath been obtained by a spy shall be tested by that of another.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒற்று ஒற்றித் தந்த பொருளையும்= ஓர் ஒற்றன் ஒற்றிவந்து அறிவித்த காரியம் தன்னையும்; மற்றும் ஓர் ஒற்றினால் ஒற்றிக் கொளல்= பிறன்ஓர் ஒற்றனாலும் ஒற்றுவித்து ஒப்புமை கண்டுகொள்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a matter investigated and reported by one spy must be investigated through another spy as well, so that their agreement may be observed.