Internal Enmity
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oṉṟāmai yoṉṟiyār kaṭpaṭi ṉeññāṉṟum / poṉṟāmai yoṉṟa laritu.
If hostility arises among those joined to him, it is always difficult for a ruler to escape death.
▸Other translations · Pope (1886) & Aiyar (1916)
“If discord finds a place midst those who dwelt at one before, / 'Tis ever hard to keep destruction from the door.”
“When treachery invadeth the entourage of the prince, it is impossible that he falleth not a prey to it one day or other.”
Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
ஒன்றாமை ஒன்றியார்கண் படின்= பகைமை தனக்குள்ளாயினார் மாட்டே பிறக்குமாயின்; பொன்றாமை ஒன்றல் எஞ்ஞான்றும் அரிது= அரசனுக்கு இறவாமை கூடுதல் எஞ்ஞான்றும் அரிது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Parimelazhagar explains that if enmity arises among the very people joined to the ruler, it is always difficult for the ruler to attain freedom from death. In the ancient political setting this is a literal mortal warning. Oṉṟāmai here is not diversity of opinion; it is hostility within the joined body acting against the purpose that unites it.