The Character of Enmity
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kallāṉ vekuḷuñ ciṟuporu ḷeññāṉṟu / mollāṉai ollā toḷi.
Renown will never attach to one who refuses the easy gain available in opposing an unlearned and angry adversary.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The task of angry war with men unlearned in virtue's lore / Who will not meet, glory shall meet him never more.”
“Behold the prince who careth not even to fight his foolish neighbour and obtain an easy victory: glory will reject him forevermore.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
கல்லான் வெகுளும் சிறுபொருள் ஒல்லானை= நீதிநூலைக் கல்லாதானொடு பகைததலான் வரும் எளியபொருளை மேவாதானை; எஞ்ஞான்றும் ஒளி ஒல்லாது= எஞ்ஞான்றும் புகழ் மேவாது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that renown will never attach to one who does not pursue the easy gain arising from opposition to a person unlearned in justice.