The Character of Enmity
.
Tap an underlined Tamil word to explore its sound, meaning, and use.
vaḻinōkkāṉ vāyppaṉa ceyyāṉ paḻinōkkāṉ / paṇpilaṉ paṟṟārk kiṉitu.
One who does not consult the right path, does not perform fitting actions, does not consider blame, and lacks cultivated conduct makes enmity pleasant to opponents.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“No way of right he scans, no precepts bind, no crimes affright, / No grace of good he owns; such man's his foes' delight.”
“There is a prince who is tactless, who careth not for honour, and who neglecteth the science of politics and the works that it enjoineth: verily he is a joy unto his enemies.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வழி நோக்கான்= ஒருவன் நீதிநூலை ஓதான்; வாய்ப்பன செய்யான்= அது விதித்த தொழில்களைச் செய்யான்; பழிநோக்கான்= தனக்கு வரும் பழியைப் பாரான்; பண்பு இலன்= தான் பண்புடையன் அல்லன்; பற்றார்க்கு இனிது= அவன் பகைவர்க்கு அப்பகைமை இனிது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that a person who does not study the just way, does not perform the acts it prescribes, does not consider the blame that will come, and lacks cultivated character makes hostility pleasant to enemies.