Comporting Oneself Before Princes
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ceviccolluñ cērnta nakaiyu mavittoḻuka / lāṉṟa periyā rakattu.
In the presence of an eminent ruler, refrain from whispering privately into another's ear and from exchanged laughter.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“All whispered words and interchange of smiles repress, / In presence of the men who kingly power possess.”
“Speak not in whispers in the presence of the great ones: nor smile to another’s face when they are near.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஆன்ற பெரியார் அகத்து= அமைந்த அரசர் அருகிருந்தால்; செவிச் சொல்லும் சேர்ந்த நகையும் அவித்து ஒழுகல்= அவர்காண ஒருவன் செவிக்கட் சொல்லுதலையும், ஒருவன் முகநோக்கி நகுதலையும் தவிர்ந்து ஒழுகுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that in the presence of an established great ruler, attendants should avoid whispering into one another's ears and exchanging laughter while the ruler can see.