The Country
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āṅkamai veytiyak kaṇṇum payamiṉṟē / vēntamai villāta nāṭu.
Even when it possesses all the preceding excellences, a country gains no benefit if concord with its ruler is absent.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Though blest with all these varied gifts' increase, / A land gains nought that is not with its king at peace.”
“Even if a country hath all these blessings it is worth nothing if it is not blessed in its ruler.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வேந்து அமைவு இல்லாத நாடு= வேந்தனோடு மேவதல் இல்லாத நாடு; ஆங்கு அமைவு எய்தியக் கணணும் பயம் இன்றே= மேற்சொல்லிய குணங்கள் எல்லாவற்றினும் நிறைந்து இருந்ததாயினும் அவற்றாற் பயனுடைத்தன்று.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a country lacking concord with its ruler gains no benefit from all the preceding qualities, even when it possesses them fully.