Comporting Oneself Before Princes
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akalā taṇukātu tīkkāyvār pōlka / ikalvēntarc cērntoḻuku vār.
Those who serve a hostile or changeable ruler should neither withdraw too far nor draw too close, but keep the measured distance of people warming themselves by a fire.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who warm them at the fire draw not too near, nor keep too much aloof; / Thus let them act who dwell beneath of warlike kings the palace-roof.”
“Whoever desireth to move with princes, let him be like unto the men that warm themselves at a fire: let him not approach too near nor stand too far away.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
இகல் வேந்தர்ச் சேர்ந்து ஒழுகுவார்= மாறுபடுதலை உடைய அரசரைச் சேர்ந்து ஒழுகும் அமைச்சர்; அகலாது அணுகாது தீக்காய்வார் போல்க= அவரை மிகநீங்குவதும், மிகச்செறிவதும் செய்யாது தீக்காய்வார்போல இடைநிலத்திலே நிற்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a minister serving a ruler prone to change or hostility must neither move excessively far away nor press excessively near, but occupy the middle distance of one who receives a fire's warmth without being burned.