The Conduct of Affairs
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tūṅkuka tūṅkic ceyaṟpāla tūṅkaṟka / tūṅkātu ceyyum viṉai.
Delay work whose nature calls for delay; do not postpone the action that must be done without delay.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Slumber when sleepy work's in hand: beware / Thou slumber not when action calls for sleepless care;”
“Do with deliberation those things that ought to be done in a leisurely way: but put not off even for a moment those things that require prompt action.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தூங்கிச் செயற்பால தூங்குக= நீட்டித்துச் செய்யும் பகுதியவாய வினைகளுள் நீட்டிக்க; தூங்காது செய்யும் வினை தூங்கற்க= நீட்டியாது செய்யும் வினைகளுள் நீட்டியாது ஒழிக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar distinguishes two classes of action. Allow delay or extended time where the work should be done gradually; where the action must be done without postponement, do not delay it.