Knowing the Assembly
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oḷiyārmuṉ oḷḷiya rātal veḷiyārmuṉ / vāṉcutai vaṇṇaṅ koḷal.
Before the discerning, show discernment; before those unable to receive such depth, take on the plain colour of white plaster.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Before the bright ones shine as doth the light! / Before the dull ones be as purest stucco white!”
“Discuss wisdom in the congregation of the wise: but answer fools according to the measure of their folly.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒளியார் முன் ஒள்ளியர் ஆதல்= அறிவான் ஒள்ளியார் அவைக்கண் தாமும் ஒள்ளியாராக; வெளியார் முன் வான் சுதை வண்ணம் கொளல்= ஏனை வெள்ளைகள் அவைக்கண் தாமும் வாலிய சுதையின் நிறத்தைக் கொள்க.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar asks the speaker to shine intellectually among the discerning, but to assume the plain whiteness of plaster among those unable to receive such learning.