Assessing Enmity
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pakainaṭpāk koṇṭoḻukum paṇpuṭai yāḷaṉ / ṟakaimaikkaṭ ṭaṅkiṟ ṟulaku.
The world rests within the greatness of the ruler whose character can turn enmity into friendship.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“The world secure on his dexterity depends, / Whose worthy rule can change his foes to friends.”
“Behold the prince that hath the tact to convert enemies into allies: his power will last without end.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
பகை நட்பாக் கொண்டு ஒழுகும் பண்புடையாளன் தகைமைக்கண்= வேண்டியவழிப் பகையை வேறுபடுத்துத் தனக்கு நட்பாச்செய்துகொண்டு ஒழுகும் இயல்பினையுடைய அரசனது பெருமையுள்ளே; தங்கிற்று உலகு= அடங்கிற்று இவ்வுலகு.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that the world is contained within the greatness of a ruler who, when needed, distinguishes an enmity and turns it into friendship with himself. The praise is for governing capacity that changes a hostile relationship, not for silencing opposition or forcing intimacy.