The Conduct of Affairs
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naṭṭārkku nalla ceyaliṉ viraintatē / yoṭṭārai yoṭṭik koḷal.
More urgent than doing good to existing allies is winning as allies those who are not joined to the opposing side.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Than kindly acts to friends more urgent thing to do, / Is making foes to cling as friends attached to you.”
“Placate enemies even more swiftly than thou rewardest friends.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
நட்டார்க்கு நல்ல செயலின் விரைந்ததே= வினைசெய்வானால், தன் நட்டார்க்கு இனியவற்றைச் செய்தலினும் விரைந்து செய்யப்படும்; ஒட்டாரை ஒட்டிக் கொளல்= தன் பகைவரோடு ஒட்டாரைத் தனக்கு நட்பாக்கிக் கோடல்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that for one undertaking action, it is more urgent than benefiting existing friends to make allies of those who have not joined the enemy.