The Ambassador
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Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
kaṟṟukkaṇ ṇañcāṉ celaccollik kālattāṟ / ṟakka taṟivatān tūtu.
An envoy is learned, unafraid before an angry gaze, able to make the message land, and able to discern the means fitting to the time.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“An envoy meet is he, well-learned, of fearless eye / Who speaks right home, prepared for each emergency.”
“Learning, sangfroid, persuasive speech, and a just instinct for what is meet for each occasion, all these are necessary qualifications in the envoy.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கற்று= நீதிநூல்களைக் கற்று; செலச்சொல்லி= தான்சென்ற கருமத்தைப் பகைவேந்தர் மனங்கொளச் சொல்லி; கண்அஞ்சான்= அவர் செயிர்த்து நோக்கின் அந்நோக்கிற்கு அஞ்சாடு; காலத்தால் தக்கது அறிவது தூதாம்= காலத்தோடு பொருந்த அது முடியத்தக்க உபாயம் அறிவானே தூதனாவான்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar describes an envoy who has learned political works, does not fear an enemy king's angry gaze, speaks so the mission enters his mind, and knows the means fitting to the occasion that can complete it. Modern courage does not reject support or safety planning; it refuses to let intimidation erase the truth while choosing an effective, proportionate route.