Comporting Oneself Before Princes
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
paḻaiya meṉakkarutip paṇpalla ceyyuṅ / keḻutakaimai kēṭu tarum.
Presumptuous familiarity that treats long association as permission for conduct outside proper character brings ruin.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Who think 'We're ancient friends' and do unseemly things; / To these familiarity sure ruin brings.”
“The men that rely on their intimacy with the prince and do unworthy deeds will perish.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பழையம் எனக்கருதிப் பண்பு அல்ல செய்யும் கெழுதகைமை= அரசனுக்கு யாம் பழையம்எனக் கருதித் தமக்கு இயல்புஅல்லாதவற்றைச் செய்யும் உரிமை; கேடு தரும்= அமைச்சர்க்குக் கேட்டினைப் பயக்கும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the presumptuous entitlement by which a minister treats long familiarity with the ruler as permission for conduct outside proper character will bring the minister ruin.