The Character of Enmity
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kuṇaṉilaṉāyk kuṟṟam palavāyiṉ māṟṟārk / kiṉaṉilaṉā mēmāp puṭaittu.
If one has no cultivated virtue and many faults, one will be left without allies; that very lack becomes strength for opponents.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“No gracious gifts he owns, faults many cloud his fame; / His foes rejoice, for none with kindred claim.”
“If a prince hath no virtues and many vices he will have no allies and his enemies will rejoice.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
குணன் இலனாய்க் குற்றம் பலவாயின் இனன் இலனாம்= ஒருவன் குணன் ஒன்றும் இலனாய் உடைய குற்றம் பலவாய வழி, அவன் துணையிலனாம்; மாற்றார்க்கு ஏமாப்பு உடைத்து= அவ்விலனாதல் தானே அவன்பகைவர்க்குத் துணையாதலை உடைத்து.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that one with no virtue and many faults becomes without allies, and that very allylessness serves as supporting strength for enemies.