Comporting Oneself Before Princes
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vēṭpaṉa colli viṉaiyila veññāṉṟuṅ / kēṭpiṉuñ collā viṭal.
Proactively state matters that are both welcome and substantially useful; leave useless matters unsaid even when the ruler asks for them.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Speak pleasant things, but never utter idle word; / Not though by monarch's ears with pleasure heard.”
“Speak those things before the prince that are pleasant to him; but things that are unprofitable, speak not ever even if he demandeth.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வேட்பன சொல்லி= பயன் பெரியனவுமாய், அரசன் விரும்புவனவுமாய காரியங்களை அவன் கேட்டிலனாயினும் சொல்லி, எஞ்ஞான்றும் வினை இல கேட்பினும் சொல்லாவிடல்= எஞ்ஞான்றும் பயனிலவாயவற்றைத் தானே கேட்டாலும் சொல்லாது விடுக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a minister should state matters of great use that the ruler welcomes even without being asked, and should always leave useless matters unsaid even when the ruler requests them.