Assessing Enmity
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villē ruḻavar pakaikoḷiṉuṅ koḷḷaṟka / collē ruḻavar pakai.
Though one may oppose those who plough with the bow, one should not make enemies of those who plough with words.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“Although you hate incur of those whose ploughs are bows, / Make not the men whose ploughs are words your foes!”
“Even if thou challenge the men whose weapon is the bow, provoke not the men whose weapon is their tongue.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
வில்ஏர் உழவர் பகைகொளினும்= ஒருவன் வில்லை ஏராக உடைய உழவரோடு பகைகொண்டான் ஆயினும்; சொல் ஏர் உழவர் பகை கொள்ளற்க= சொல்லை ஏராக உடைய உழவரோடு பகை கொள்ளாது ஒழிக.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar contrasts warriors who use the bow as their plough with thinkers who use speech as their plough. One may incur the former enmity, but should avoid making enemies of the latter. The historical strategic warning is that communicators can explain, preserve, and spread a case through many people. It does not justify silencing speakers; truthful words should be met with evidence, correction, and transparent process.