The Character of Enmity
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koṭuttuṅ koḷalvēṇṭu maṉṟa vaṭuttiruntu / māṇāta ceyvāṉ pakai.
Even at some cost, one should surely take up opposition to a person who has begun an undertaking yet keeps doing what is unfit for it.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Unseemly are his deeds, yet proffering aid, the man draws nigh: / His hate- 'tis cheap at any price- be sure to buy!”
“Behold the prince who undertaketh an enterprise but doth things that accord not with its success: verily one should seek his enmity even by paying a price for it if necessary.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
அடுத்து இருந்து மாணாத செய்வான் பகை= வினையைத் தொடங்கியிருந்து அதற்கு ஏலாதன செய்வான் பகைமையை; கொடுத்தும் கொளல் மன்ற வேண்டும்= சில பொருள் அழியக் கொடுத்தாயினும் கோடல் ஒருதலையாக வேண்டும்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the enmity of one who has begun an undertaking but performs acts unsuited to it should certainly be taken up, even if some resources must be spent.