The Ambassador
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tokaccollit tūvāta nīkki nakaccolli / naṉṟi payappatān tūtu.
True envoy-work condenses many matters, removes needlessly harsh wording, speaks pleasantly, and thereby produces benefit. It does not omit inconvenient truth.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“In terms concise, avoiding wrathful speech, who utters pleasant word, / An envoy he who gains advantage for his lord.”
“Conciseness of speech, sweetness of tongue and a careful eschewing of all disagreeable language, these are the means by which the ambassador shall work his master’s profit.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
தொகச் சொல்லி= வேற்றரசர்க்குப் பல காரியங்களைச் சொல்லும்வழிக் காரணவகையான் தொகுத்துச் சொல்லியும்; தூவாத நீக்கி நகச்சொல்லி= இன்னாத காரியங்களைச் சொல்லும்வழி வெய்ய சொற்களை நீக்கி இனிய சொற்களான் மனமகிழச் சொல்லியும்; நன்றி பயப்பது தூதாம்= தன் அரசனுக்கு நன்மையைப் பயப்பவனே தூதனாவான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar says that an envoy orders many matters by their reasons, removes harsh words when conveying painful business, speaks in pleasant terms, and thereby produces benefit for his king. The discipline changes form, not factual substance; it does not license hiding harm or inconvenient evidence.