Comporting Oneself Before Princes
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maṉṉar viḻaipa viḻaiyāmai maṉṉarāṉ / maṉṉiya vākkan tarum.
Not becoming a personal rival for what the ruler seeks brings the minister enduring prosperity from that ruler.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“To those who prize not state that kings are wont to prize, / The king himself abundant wealth supplies.”
“Not to itch for those things that the prince desireth: that is the secret of acquiring his lasting favour and thereby growing in affluence.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மன்னர் விழைப விழையாமை= தம்மால் சேரப்பட்ட மன்னர் விரும்புவனவற்றைத் தாம் விரும்பாது ஒழிதல்; மன்னரான் மன்னிய ஆக்கம் தரும்= அமைச்சர்க்கு அவரானே நிலைபெற்ற செல்வத்தைக் கொடுக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that when a minister refrains from personally competing for what the ruler desires, that ruler will provide the minister enduring prosperity.