The Councillor of State
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paḻuteṇṇu mantiriyiṟ pakkattuṭ ṭevvō / reḻupatu kōṭi yuṟum.
One minister beside the ruler who secretly plans harm brings greater danger than an immense multitude of open enemies.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“A minister who by king's side plots evil things / Worse woes than countless foemen brings.”
“Behold the minister that sitteth in the Council and plotteth the ruin of his prince: he is more dangerous than seven hundred million enemies.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பக்கத்துள் பழுது எண்ணும் மந்திரியின்= பக்கத்திருந்து பிழைப்ப எண்ணும் அமைச்சன் ஒருவனில்; ஓர் எழுபது கோடி தெவ் உறும்= அரசனுக்கு எதிர்நிற்பார் ஓர் எழுபது கோடி பகைவர் உறுவர்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that one minister who remains at the ruler's side while planning his failure brings the ruler danger equivalent to an immense multitude of open enemies. The hyperbolic number emphasises the exceptional risk of concealed betrayal within entrusted power.